Back in 1997, Texas began permitting parents to take on the role of instructor during the period dedicated to driver education. Texas driver's ed requirements can be met through a variety of programs, but comprehensive curricula that are available online are among the best.

Who Qualifies for Home Based Instruction?
Teens between the ages of 14 and 17 can be taught at home. The instructor must be a parent, stepparent, grandparent, step-grandparent, foster parent or legal guardian.

Criteria for the Instructor
The instructor must have a valid Texas driver's license that has been effective for the previous three years. There is an exception for active US military personnel and the spouses of such personnel.

The instructor cannot have any convictions, or probated sentence of criminally negligent homicide, or DWI. The license must not have been forfeited within the last three years, revoked, or suspended for driving related offenses. Additionally, no one who is disabled from mental illness is considered acceptable.

The instructor is responsible for checking their driving record if they have any reason to suspect that they may not be acceptable to the State. If the instructor is found to be unsuitable any previously held class time or driving time will be considered null and void.

Applying for Parent Taught Driver's Ed Program
To apply for the Parent Taught Driver's Education Program, you must fill out the DL-92 form and submit it with a $20 non-refundable fee for each student. Within 2-3 weeks, you will hear back from the State if they accepted you into the program or not.

A DE-964 certificate will be issued to the student and the proper paperwork will be forwarded to the local Driver's License office. A Parent Taught Driver's Education Program packet will be sent to the instructor as well.

What is Required for a License?
Once the permit has been issued, a student is expected to spend 32 hours in classroom instruction, 7 hours of behind the wheel instruction, and 7 hours of in-car practice time. Parents can manage the time in blocks or teach it concurrently.

A number of home education programs are available online to meet the 32-hour classroom portion of the course.

Advantages to Getting a Comprehensive Program
I don't know about you, but if I had to teach my teen from scratch, I would be completely overwhelmed. Ordering a complete curriculum online makes things so much easier. You know exactly what skills to teach and how to teach them.

Even better, these courses come with video lessons as well as workbooks so you can practice real life situations before you experience them on the road. You can take your time and repeat lessons, if needed, until you feel certain you child is ready to take their test, and more important, will drive without endangering anyone in the process, and will stay collision-free.

The Final Steps to Vehicular Freedom
Eventually you will feel that your child is ready to take their test, their Texas Driver's Education is behind them. Check online to find a complete list of documents and forms you need to bring down to the Driver's License office.