Governor DeWine Announces $6 Million for Driver Training Scholarships

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)- Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jim Tressel today announced $6 million in grant funding to help expand access to driver training in Ohio.

As part of the Ohio Traffic Safety Office's (OTSO) Drive to Succeed Program, four educational service centers (ESCs) in Ohio will receive funding to provide driver training scholarships to eligible new drivers under age 21. The $6 million in grants is expected to fund scholarships for more than 10,000 Ohio students across all 88 counties.

The East Central Ohio Educational Service Center, Fairfield County Educational Service Center, Midwest Regional Educational Service Center, and North Central Ohio Educational Service Center will each receive $1.5 million over the next two years to provide scholarships to students in their designated regions.

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"Being able to drive opens doors to jobs, school, and so many aspects of daily life," said Governor DeWine. "Through the Drive to Succeed program, we are making sure that more young people across Ohio have the chance to safely earn their license and build a stronger future for themselves."

"Safe driving starts with access to strong driver education," said Lt. Governor Tressel. "With this funding, we are helping to ensure that cost is not a barrier to learning the skills needed to be a safe and responsible driver."

Governor DeWine launched the Drive to Succeed scholarship program in 2022 to support teenage drivers whose families cannot otherwise afford the cost of a driving school. To date, more than 5,100 students have received scholarships to cover the fees for the 24 hours of classroom education and eight hours of behind-the-wheel training required to get a license.

"This third round of Drive to Succeed grant awards represents our strongest commitment yet to expanding driver training opportunities for Ohio's young people," said Andy Wilson, director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety. "We know there is a need in all 88 counties, and now every community can support young drivers in gaining the knowledge and skills they need for a lifetime of safe driving."

"Every round of Drive to Succeed grants has shown us how impactful this program is for families across Ohio," said Emily Davidson, OTSO director. "We have heard from hundreds of parents who recognize the importance of driver training but need help paying for it. This program directly addresses that need and sets young drivers up for safety and success on the road."

The four ESCs have up to 150 days to launch their scholarship programs. Once the scholarship programs are active, students and young adults can visit Drive to Succeed 2026 | Ohio Traffic Safety Office to find the ESC serving their region and to begin the application process.

This announcement comes during National Teen Driver Safety Week, observed October 19-25, which highlights the critical role education plays in reducing crashes and saving lives.

OTSO, a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, also recently launched the new RoadReady Ohio phone app to support parents who are required under Ohio law to complete 50 hours of practice driving with a new driver under age 21. OTSO also launched two new grant programs for driving schools to help them recruit and train new instructors.