Community Education offers teen driver education in cooperation with Safeway Driving School. Safeway Driving School has been graduating teen drivers in the Twin Cities area for over 50 years. Safeway’s only focus is creating safe, responsible teen drivers. Classroom and behind-the-wheel lessons emphasize defensive driving techniques tailored to the inexperienced teen driver while targeting to influence the invincible teen attitude. All of Safeway’s instructors are licensed by the Minnesota Dept. of Public Safety.

The cost of the teen package is $419 and includes the classroom and behind-the-wheel lessons, and all materials. Pay in full upon registration ($419) or choose the payment plan: $269 payable to Community Education upon registration and $150 (two payments of $75 each) payable to Safeway at the behind-the-wheel lessons.

Classroom instruction prepares the student to take the Minnesota permit test and begin the responsibility of driving. The 30 hours of classroom time is structured into 10 independent lessons. Students must be on time for all classes. After class is completed, students that are 15 years old are eligible to take their permit test at any Minnesota exam center. The permit test is not provided during the class. Students can take the class at age 14½ but cannot take their permit test until age 15.

Make-up lessons can be taken in the next session or at any of Safeway’s other virtual locations. Students must make up the exact lesson number that they missed. Students are welcome to make up in any location as long as the class is not marked “Class Full” on Safeway’s website. For make-up options, contact Safeway at 651-351-9150.

Behind-the-wheel instruction includes six hours of driving in three, two-hour private lessons. All driving is done in a real car on actual city streets, highways and freeways with a responsible, licensed Safeway instructor. Safeway recommends students take their first lesson after at least 5 hours of practice driving. The lessons should be a minimum of 30 days apart to allow for practice. The lessons can be completed up to one year after completing classroom. Scheduling is offered online for 24/7 convenience. All of Safeway’s cars are white with identical graphics, so parents and students are confident that it is a Safeway car picking up the student for a lesson. Students can get picked up for their behind-the-wheel lesson from home, school or work.

Parent involvement is required to produce safe, responsible teen drivers. It is critical that parents plan to practice regularly with their new student drivers. Safeway offers a free online parent class on their website. The state requires that students have a minimum of 50 hours of practice (15 hours at night). The practice time must be recorded on a state-approved Supervised Driving log and presented at the road test.

Safeway Driving School

Safeway Driving School has been graduating teen drivers in the Twin Cities area for over 50 years. Safeway’s only focus is creating safe, responsible teen drivers. Classroom and behind-the-wheel lessons emphasize defensive driving techniques tailored to the inexperienced teen driver while targeting to influence the invincible teen attitude. All of Safeway’s instructors are licensed by the Minnesota Dept. of Public Safety.

** There will be ongoing health & safety protocols for all programs, participants, staff and families. These protocols will be shared when the class is about to start.