Graduation Requirement
Alcott College Prep students will complete the graduation requirement 30 hours of classroom instruction during a 10 week block of sophomore PE lessons. Please note that Alcott does not have the resources available to provide the Behind The Wheel portion, but information regarding where to find these facilities can be found at the bottom of this page.
Mr. Matt Barrow
P.E. Department Chair & Freshman Team Lead
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (773) 534-5970
Course Overview
Illinois State Law requires completion of 30 hours of classroom instruction, so any work missed through absence MUST be made up in order to complete the course. Absences equalling more than 5 hours, alongside failure to complete make-up work, will result in automatic failure of the course.
- Basic Vehicle Operation
- Performing Basic Maneuvers
- Signs, Signals & Roadway Markings
- Alcohol, Drugs & Driving
- Managing Distractions
- Handling Emergencies
- Vehicle Maintenance
Public Service Announcement Project
During the course, students must complete a project on one aspect related to safety in driving. The project can be used towards Service Learning hours provided the student receives at least a B for the Peer Evaluation part of the grade. A copy of the PSA Project Information and Grading Criteria is available below.
Essential Information
The following documents provide essential information regarding the learning process. Please download all of them and read them thoroughly, preferably before the first lesson.
Graduated Driver Licensing Program
(GDL)
Parent-Teen Driving Guide
A brochure containing detailed information about The GDL process, with questionnaires and driving skills info sheets. This document can be used to help record progress as skills are learned and mastered.
Rules of the Road
The most up-to-date rules of the road booklet
50Hr. Sheet
Used to record the required 50 hours of driving.
Graduated Driver License
It takes time to learn how to be a good driver. The Illinois Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Program was established to aid young, novice drivers in this effort, with the law taking effect in January 2008. Students will be given all necessary information regarding the application procedure at the start of the course, when they begin the Permit Phase.
- Drivers must be age 15
- Parent/legal guardian consent required to obtain an instruction permit.
- Must be enrolled in an approved driver education course, and must pass vision and written tests.
- Nighttime driving restrictions — Sun.-Thurs., 10 p.m.-6 a.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11 p.m.-6 a.m. (local curfews may differ).
- Permit must be held for a minimum of nine months.
- Must practice driving a minimum of 50 hours, including 10 hours at night, supervised by a parent or adult age 21 or older with a valid driver’s license.
- Must not acquire any driving convictions during the nine-month permit phase.
- Number of passengers limited to one in the front seat and the number of safety belts in the back seat.
- All occupants under age 19 must wear safety belts.
- Cell phone use while driving is prohibited for drivers under age 19, except in the case of an emergency.
- Texting while driving is prohibited.
- Permit is valid for up to two years.
Graduated Driver License
It takes time to learn how to be a good driver. The Illinois Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Program was established to aid young, novice drivers in this effort, with the law taking effect in January 2008. Students will be given all necessary information regarding the application procedure at the start of the course, when they begin the Permit Phase.
- Drivers must be age 15
- Parent/legal guardian consent required to obtain an instruction permit.
- Must be enrolled in an approved driver education course, and must pass vision and written tests.
- Nighttime driving restrictions — Sun.-Thurs., 10 p.m.-6 a.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11 p.m.-6 a.m. (local curfews may differ).
- Permit must be held for a minimum of nine months.
- Must practice driving a minimum of 50 hours, including 10 hours at night, supervised by a parent or adult age 21 or older with a valid driver’s license.
- Must not acquire any driving convictions during the nine-month permit phase.
- Number of passengers limited to one in the front seat and the number of safety belts in the back seat.
- All occupants under age 19 must wear safety belts.
- Cell phone use while driving is prohibited for drivers under age 19, except in the case of an emergency.
- Texting while driving is prohibited.
- Permit is valid for up to two years.
Visit Cyber Drive Illinois' Website for more information on the Graduated Driver License.
Behind the Wheel at CPS Driver Education Sites
The link below will take you to the CPS Driver Education page, with contact details for all schools that offer Traffic and/or Range.
In order to apply for the Instruction Permit, you must enroll in a Behind The Wheel course at one of the listed sites, AND ASK THEM FOR A 4-DIGIT CODE. You must have this code when you go to the DMV to complete your application! Some sites may take care of the application for you, so be sure to ask!