First, call your insurance agent.  After you have picked yourself up from the floor, sit down with your teenager and break the news that your entire family will be eating macaroni and cheese three times a week so he can drive to the movies on Saturday night.  Driving is an issue that every family confronts.  By age 15½ your teenager is eligible to obtain a learner's permit from the DMV.  You may not be aware that there are two components that must be fulfilled in order to receive a California driver's license before the age of 18.  One is Driver's Education - learning the rules in preparation for the written test; the other is Driver's Training - 6 hours of supervised driving with a licensed driving school (the nail-biting behind-the-wheel stuff).  DHS offers Driver's Education but DOES NOT OFFER DRIVER'S TRAINING.  Driver's Education is offered at DHS according to interest expressed on student course planners.  The class may not be available when your teen wants it so your other options are to pay an accredited driver's school or online.  Everyone has to pay for the Driver's Training portion.  Grades for good student driver allowances on insurance can be verified by the counselor.

Some final notes:  Do your homework! You may want to check the safety records for a driving school.  Calling DMV to check out exactly what documents, signatures (both parents!!), classes you need in order to obtain a license or permit can save you headaches.   Learning disabled students can call ahead and make an appointment to have the written test read to them or to arrange to take the test on tape.  This information is all on the DMV website www.dmv.ca.gov.  The website also lists the driving restrictions for the first year driver.  The Davis Police Dept. does enforce these laws.

Once they have a license, be prepared for some your high school-related stress as they take off on their own in your car.  Parking lots at DHS are city lots—patrolled by the police department, shared by the community and used by many people on many schedules, not just the high school.  Staff parking spaces are for staff only during school hours.