| (II) real possibilities of poor decision making;
(III) impact of poor choices on your world; and
(IV) the role peer pressure has on decision making
and risk taking.
(xii) Human Trafficking - (instructional objective--to
assist the participant to recognize the key indicators of human trafficking
information in accordance with the provisions of the Julia Wells Act
(Senate Bill 1831, Section 3, 87th Regular Legislature (2021)).) Instruction
shall address the following topics:
(I) activities commonly associated with human trafficking;
(II) recognition of potential victims of human trafficking;
and
(III) methods for assisting victims of human trafficking,
including how to report human trafficking.
(xiii) Taking control - (instructional objective--to
create a plan for behavior change). Instruction shall address the
following topics:
(I) taking control of potentially dangerous driving
situations as a driver or passenger;
(II) written plan and commitment by the student to
family and friends that they will no longer engage in dangerous driving
habits; and
(III) Course conclusion.
(xiv) Comprehensive examination--minimum five minutes
(this shall be the last unit of instruction).
(E) Instructor training guides. An instructor training
guide contains a description of the plan, training techniques, and
curriculum to be used to train instructors to present the concepts
of the approved driving safety course described in the applicant's
driving safety course content guide. Each course provider shall submit
as part of the application an instructor training guide that is bound
or hole-punched and placed in a binder and that has a cover and a
table of contents. The guide shall include the following:
(i) a statement of the philosophy and instructional
goals of the training course;
(ii) a description of the plan to be followed in training
instructors. The plan shall include, at a minimum, provisions for
the following:
(I) instruction of the trainee in the course curriculum;
(II) training the trainee in the techniques of instruction
that will be used in the course;
(III) training the trainee about administrative procedures
and course provider policies;
(IV) demonstration of desirable techniques of instruction
by the instructor trainer;
(V) time to be dedicated to each training lesson; and
(VI) under the observation of a licensed instructor
trainer. The instructor trainee shall provide instruction for two
full courses under the observation of a licensed instructor trainer.
It is not mandatory that the two courses be taught as two complete
courses; however, every instructional unit shall be taught twice;
and
(iii) instructional units sufficient to address the
provisions identified in clause (ii)(I) - (VI). The total time of
the units shall contain a minimum of 16 instructional hours in addition
to a minimum of eight hours of practical instruction under the observation
of a licensed instructor identified in clause (ii)(VI). Each instructional
unit shall include the following:
(I) the subject of the unit;
(II) the instructional objectives of the unit;
(III) time to be dedicated to the unit;
(IV) an outline of major concepts to be presented;
(V) instructional activities to be used to present
the material (i.e., lecture, films, other media, small-group discussions,
workbook activities, written and oral discussion questions). When
small-group discussions are planned, the course guide shall identify
the questions that will be assigned to the groups;
(VI) instructional resources for each unit; and
(VII) techniques for evaluating the comprehension level
of the instructor trainee relative to the instructional unit. If oral
or written questions are to be used to measure student comprehension
levels, they shall be included in the instructor training guide. The
evaluative technique may be used throughout the unit or at the end.
(F) Examinations.
(i) Student Examination. Each course provider shall
submit for approval, as part of the application, two tests designed
to measure the comprehension level of students at the completion of
the driving safety course. The comprehensive examination for the driving
safety course must include at least two questions from the required
units set forth in subparagraph (D)(ii) - (xii), for a total of at
least 20 questions. The comprehensive examination questions shall
be of such difficulty that the answer may not easily be determined
without completing the actual instruction. Instructors shall not assist
students in answering the final examination questions but may facilitate
alternative testing. Students may not be given credit for the driving
safety course unless they score 70 percent or more on the final test.
The course content guide shall identify alternative testing techniques
to be used for students with reading, hearing, or learning disabilities
and policies for retesting students who score less than 70 percent
on the final examination. The applicant may choose not to provide
alternative testing techniques; however, students shall be advised
whether the course provides alternative testing prior to enrollment
in the course. Test questions may be short answer, multiple choice,
essay, or a combination of these forms.
(ii) Instructor Trainee. Each course provider shall
submit for approval, as part of the application, two tests designed
to measure the comprehension level of instructor trainee of the driving
safety course. The comprehensive examination may consist of one all-inclusive
test or test at the conclusion of major unit. The comprehensive examination
questions shall be of such difficulty that the answer may not easily
be determined without completing the actual instruction. Instructors
shall not assist instructor trainees in answering the comprehensive
examination questions but may facilitate alternative testing. Instructors
may not be certified for the driving safety course unless they score
70 percent or more on the comprehensive examination. The course content
guide shall identify alternative testing techniques to be used for
instructor trainee with reading, hearing, or learning disabilities
and policies for retesting students who score less than 70 percent
on the comprehensive examination. The applicant may choose not to
provide alternative testing techniques; however, students shall be
advised whether the course provides alternative testing prior to enrollment
in the course. Test questions may be short answer, multiple choice,
essay, or a combination of these forms.
(G) Requirements for authorship. The course materials
shall be written by individuals or organizations with recognized experience
in writing instructional materials.
(H) Renewal of course approval. The course approval
must be renewed every even-numbered year.
(i) For approval, the course provider shall update
all the course content methodology, procedures, statistical data,
and references to law with the latest available data.
(ii) The department may alter the due date of the renewal
documents by giving the approved course six months notice. The department
may alter the due date in order to ensure that the course is updated
six months after the effective date of new state laws passed by the
Texas Legislature.
(2) Instructor development courses.
(A) Driving safety instructors shall successfully complete
16 clock hours instruction in the approved instructor development
course prior to the required minimum of eight hours of practical instruction
of the driving safety course to be taught, under the supervision of
a driving safety instructor trainer. Supervision is considered to
have occurred when the instructor trainer is present and personally
provides the 16 clock hours instruction and is present at the eight
hours of practical instruction of training for driving safety instructors.
(B) Instruction records shall be maintained by the
course provider and instructor trainer for each instructor trainee
and shall be available for inspection by authorized department representatives
at any time. The instruction record shall include the trainee's name,
address, driver's license number, and other pertinent data; the name
and instructor license number of the person conducting the training;
and the dates of instruction, lesson time, and subject taught during
each instruction period. Each record shall also include grades or
other means of indicating the trainee's aptitude and development.
Upon satisfactory completion of the training course, the instructor
trainer conducting the training will certify one copy of the instruction
record for attachment to the trainee's application for licensing,
and one copy will be maintained in a permanent file at the course
provider location.
(C) All instructor trainee instruction records submitted
for the department-approved instructor development course shall be
signed by the course provider. Original documents shall be submitted.
(D) Driving safety instructor development courses including
the practical-teaching portion of the instructor development course
shall be offered at approved classroom facilities of a licensed school
which is approved to offer the driving safety course being taught.
A licensed instructor trainer shall present the course.
(3) Continuing education courses.
(A) Each course provider will be responsible for receiving
an approval for a minimum of a two-hour continuing education course.
Each instructor currently endorsed to teach the course must attend
the approved continuing education course conducted by the course provider.
(B) The request for course approval shall contain the
following:
(i) a description of the plan by which the course will
be presented;
(ii) the subject of each unit;
(iii) the instructional objectives of each unit;
(iv) time to be dedicated to each unit;
(v) instructional resources for each unit, including
names or titles of presenters and facilitators;
(vi) any information that the department mandates to
promote the quality of the education being provided; and
(vii) a plan by which the course provider will monitor
and ensure attendance and completion of the course by the instructions
within the guidelines set forth in the course.
(C) A continuing education course may be approved if
the department determines that:
(i) the course is designed to enhance the instructional
skills, methods, or knowledge of the driving safety instructor;
(ii) the course pertains to subject matters that relate
directly to driving safety instruction, instruction techniques, or
driving safety-related subjects;
(iii) the course has been designed, planned, and organized
by the course provider. The course provider shall use licensed driving
safety instructors to provide instruction or other individuals with
recognized experience or expertise in the area of driving safety instruction
or driving safety-related subject matters. Evidence of the individuals
experience, or expertise may be requested by the department;
(iv) the course contains updates or approved revisions
to the driving safety course curriculum, policies or procedures, and/or
any changes to the course, that are affected by changes in traffic
laws or statistical data; and
(v) any technology used to present a continuing education
course meets reasonable standards for determining attendance, security,
and testing.
(b) Course providers shall submit documentation on
behalf of schools applying for approval of additional courses after
the original approval has been granted. The documents shall be designated
by the department and include the appropriate fee. Courses shall be
approved before soliciting students, advertising, or conducting classes.
An approval for an additional course shall not be granted if the school's
compliance is in question at the time of application.
(c) If an approved course is discontinued, the department
shall be notified within five days of discontinuance and furnished
with the names and addresses of any students who could not complete
the course because it was discontinued. If the school does not make
arrangements satisfactory to the students and the department for the
completion of the courses, the full amount of all tuition and fees
paid by the students are due and refundable. If arrangements are not
made satisfactory to the students and the department, the refunds
must be made no later than 30 days after the course was discontinued.
Any course discontinued shall be removed from the list of approved
courses.
(d) If, upon review and consideration of an original,
renewal, or amended application for course approval, the department
determines that the applicant does not meet the legal requirements,
the department shall notify the applicant, setting forth the reasons
for denial in writing.
(e) The department may revoke approval of any course
given to a course owner, provider, or school under any of the following
circumstances:
(1) Any information contained in the application for
the course approval is found to be untrue;
(2) The school has failed to maintain the faculty,
facilities, equipment, or courses of study on the basis of which approval
was issued;
(3) The school and/or course provider has been found
to be in violation of the Code, and/or this chapter; or
(4) The course has been found to be ineffective in
meeting the educational objectives set forth in subsection (a)(1)(A).
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