A $40 driver’s ed fee increase will go into effect in September 2021 for Flathead and Glacier high school students, bringing the total cost to $310.

The fee increase will offset the expense of leasing two additional Toyota Camrys, bringing the total number of vehicles for the program to eight.

The driving portion of the traffic education course requires each student drive a minimum of six hours and up to 12 hours of in-car observation. The course is offered after school, on weekends and during the summer.

The program currently serves 492 high school students, and classes for the 2020-21 school year and June/July 2021 sessions are full. Students may be put on a waitlist starting Sept. 28 by visiting https://www.sd5.k12.mt.us/content/traffic-ed.

“We do have more requests than we have staff to work and we’re hoping that is part of our strategic plan, to increase instructors, and increase the numbers of cars so that we can support at an adequate level the driver’s ed requests,” Kalispell Assistant Superintendent Callie Langohr said.

For the 2021-22 school year, parents will be able to register students and pay the fee online.

“It will be much more user-friendly and customer-friendly. Parents can do it any time,” Langohr said.

Scholarships may be available to students by contacting their high school principal or the Traffic Education Center.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.