Brookings Driver’s Education – Required Information
Please read carefully before registering.
1. South Dakota State Requirements
To receive a Driver’s Education certificate, students must:
● Complete 30 hours of face-to-face classroom instruction
● Complete 6 hours driving
● Complete 6 hours riding with a partner driver
● Pass both the classroom and driving tests
Driving does NOT take place during classroom times or dates.
Students do NOT sign up for driving sessions until they are attending the classroom session.
Certificates are valid for one year only.
2. Attendance Policy (Read Carefully)
State law requires 30 in-person classroom hours.
● Each session includes ONE make-up hour only, scheduled at the end of that session.
● If a student misses more than one total hour, they will NOT pass the classroom portion.
● This includes tardies and early departures.
● The make-up hour applies only to that specific session and cannot be transferred.
Sports, practices, games, performances, ESD events, State FFA/FCCLA, band/choir, and other
school activities are NOT excused absences, even if labeled “mandatory.”
Please review all schedules carefully before registering.
If a student’s activities conflict with class time, they should choose a different session.
3. Registration & Placement
● All three registration links go live February 23, 2026.
● Registration for all three sessions closes on March 6, 2026.
● Links will be emailed and posted on the school website.
● Only ONE person should register each student.
○ If multiple registrations are submitted, only the first submission will be kept.
Placement Policy
● Students are placed in the first session they qualify for.
● If you register for multiple sessions, your student will be placed in the first one that fills.
● You may NOT hold spots in multiple sessions.
● If you decline your assigned session, placement in another session is NOT guaranteed.
● Priority is given to students in grades 9–12.
4. Driving Sessions
● Driving sign-ups take place after the classroom session begins.
● Driving is scheduled separately from classroom dates/times.
● Typical driving times:
● School year: 4:00–6:00 p.m.
● Summer: 7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
○ Times vary based on instructor availability.
● Each student must complete:
○ 6 hours driving
○ 6 hours partner riding (12 total driving-related hours)
Due to the large number of students and limited instructor time, flexibility is required when
scheduling driving sessions.
Students involved in sports or other after-school activities must fit driving into the times offered.
5. Location & Cost
● Location: CTE Building (south side of BHS south parking lot)
● Cost: $300
● Payment due first day of class (check payable to Brookings Schools)
For 6:55 a.m. sessions during the school year, a bus will transport MMS students to school at
8:00 a.m.
There will be three sessions of drivers’ education offered for Brookings School
District students in 2026. See deadlines for each session’s registration below.
● Session #1 required classroom dates: Students must be 14 years old by April 9th.
March 12, 13 (3 hours - 6:55 - 9:55 a.m.) March 16, 17, 18,19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26,
27, 30, 31, April 1 (1 hour - 6:55 - 7:55 a.m.) April 2, 3, 6 (3 hours - 6:55-9:55
a.m.) April 7, 8 (1 hour - 6:55 - 7:55 a.m.)
● The test will be given on April 8th, the final day of class.
● Makeup day for ONE hour and/or a test retake will be on April 9th at 6:55
a.m.
● Students will be given their certificates Thursday morning between 6:55
and 7:55 a.m. - they can be picked up in the CTE classroom.
● Students who do not attend 30 hours will not pass the class.
Session #1 Registration Link:
Session 1 Drivers Ed
● Session #2 required classroom dates: Students must be 14 by May 20th.
April 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, May 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
11, 12 13, 14, 15, 18, 19 (1 hour- 6:55 - 8:00 a.m.) May 20th (2 hours - 6:55 -
9:00 a.m.)
● The test will be given on May 20th, the final day of class.
● Makeup day for ONE hour and/or a test retake will be on May 21st at 6:55
a.m.
● Students who do not attend 30 hours will not pass the class.
Session #2 Registration Link:
Session 2 Drivers Ed
● Session #3 required classroom dates: Students must be 14 by August 1st
July 20th-24th, 27th-31st. (3 hours - 7:00 - 10:00 a.m.)
● The test will be given on July 31st, the final day of class.
● Makeup day for ONE hour and/or a test retake will be on Saturday,
August 1st at 6:55 a.m.
● Students who do not attend 30 hours will not pass the class.
Session #3 Registration Link:
Session 3 Drivers Ed
The Brookings School District does not manage the Drivers’ Ed program class
set-up, registration process, scheduling or questions about the course. Please
email Joline Dunbar at Joline.Dunbar@k12.sd.us if you have questions.
Please read carefully before registering.
1. South Dakota State Requirements
To receive a Driver’s Education certificate, students must:
● Complete 30 hours of face-to-face classroom instruction
● Complete 6 hours driving
● Complete 6 hours riding with a partner driver
● Pass both the classroom and driving tests
Driving does NOT take place during classroom times or dates.
Students do NOT sign up for driving sessions until they are attending the classroom session.
Certificates are valid for one year only.
2. Attendance Policy (Read Carefully)
State law requires 30 in-person classroom hours.
● Each session includes ONE make-up hour only, scheduled at the end of that session.
● If a student misses more than one total hour, they will NOT pass the classroom portion.
● This includes tardies and early departures.
● The make-up hour applies only to that specific session and cannot be transferred.
Sports, practices, games, performances, ESD events, State FFA/FCCLA, band/choir, and other
school activities are NOT excused absences, even if labeled “mandatory.”
Please review all schedules carefully before registering.
If a student’s activities conflict with class time, they should choose a different session.
3. Registration & Placement
● All three registration links go live February 23, 2026.
● Registration for all three sessions closes on March 6, 2026.
● Links will be emailed and posted on the school website.
● Only ONE person should register each student.
○ If multiple registrations are submitted, only the first submission will be kept.
Placement Policy
● Students are placed in the first session they qualify for.
● If you register for multiple sessions, your student will be placed in the first one that fills.
● You may NOT hold spots in multiple sessions.
● If you decline your assigned session, placement in another session is NOT guaranteed.
● Priority is given to students in grades 9–12.
4. Driving Sessions
● Driving sign-ups take place after the classroom session begins.
● Driving is scheduled separately from classroom dates/times.
● Typical driving times:
● School year: 4:00–6:00 p.m.
● Summer: 7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
○ Times vary based on instructor availability.
● Each student must complete:
○ 6 hours driving
○ 6 hours partner riding (12 total driving-related hours)
Due to the large number of students and limited instructor time, flexibility is required when
scheduling driving sessions.
Students involved in sports or other after-school activities must fit driving into the times offered.
5. Location & Cost
● Location: CTE Building (south side of BHS south parking lot)
● Cost: $300
● Payment due first day of class (check payable to Brookings Schools)
For 6:55 a.m. sessions during the school year, a bus will transport MMS students to school at
8:00 a.m.
There will be three sessions of drivers’ education offered for Brookings School
District students in 2026. See deadlines for each session’s registration below.
● Session #1 required classroom dates: Students must be 14 years old by April 9th.
March 12, 13 (3 hours - 6:55 - 9:55 a.m.) March 16, 17, 18,19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26,
27, 30, 31, April 1 (1 hour - 6:55 - 7:55 a.m.) April 2, 3, 6 (3 hours - 6:55-9:55
a.m.) April 7, 8 (1 hour - 6:55 - 7:55 a.m.)
● The test will be given on April 8th, the final day of class.
● Makeup day for ONE hour and/or a test retake will be on April 9th at 6:55
a.m.
● Students will be given their certificates Thursday morning between 6:55
and 7:55 a.m. - they can be picked up in the CTE classroom.
● Students who do not attend 30 hours will not pass the class.
Session #1 Registration Link:
Session 1 Drivers Ed
● Session #2 required classroom dates: Students must be 14 by May 20th.
April 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, May 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
11, 12 13, 14, 15, 18, 19 (1 hour- 6:55 - 8:00 a.m.) May 20th (2 hours - 6:55 -
9:00 a.m.)
● The test will be given on May 20th, the final day of class.
● Makeup day for ONE hour and/or a test retake will be on May 21st at 6:55
a.m.
● Students who do not attend 30 hours will not pass the class.
Session #2 Registration Link:
Session 2 Drivers Ed
● Session #3 required classroom dates: Students must be 14 by August 1st
July 20th-24th, 27th-31st. (3 hours - 7:00 - 10:00 a.m.)
● The test will be given on July 31st, the final day of class.
● Makeup day for ONE hour and/or a test retake will be on Saturday,
August 1st at 6:55 a.m.
● Students who do not attend 30 hours will not pass the class.
Session #3 Registration Link:
Session 3 Drivers Ed
The Brookings School District does not manage the Drivers’ Ed program class
set-up, registration process, scheduling or questions about the course. Please
email Joline Dunbar at Joline.Dunbar@k12.sd.us if you have questions.
Reminder: No school Monday, February 16th for Presidents' Day.
Congrats to our Elementary Festival Honors Choir students! What a great day and great concert. This was an auditioned choir. Members include: Haven Anderson, Ernastine Miles, Kinley Prussman, Leiana Thielke, Xochitl Markel, Elise Ulvestad, Stella Books, and Sasha Prager (Sasha went under the direction of Dr. Toronto's private studio).
MMS Staff and Students Dress Up during Super Bowl Week. They also collected food for the local food pantry.
MMS and BHS (grades 6- through 12) DO have school on Friday, February 13th.
(All students are off on Monday, February 16th for President's Day.)
A HUGE shout-out to our students, families, and staff for donating almost 1,800 items to the Brookings Food Pantry last week during Super Bowl week. Our students were rock stars, and we could not be prouder. THANK YOU BOBCATS!!!
Reminder: If you have overdue items for the library, please return them ASAP. Your homeroom teacher should have given you a notice with late items. Parents and guardians we would appreciate your help in getting these items returned. Thank you!
8th Grade Rising Freshman Event -- Please see poster for date and information.
Reminder: No school Monday, January 19th for MLK Jr. Day.
Reminder: Noon dismissal on Friday, December 19th. No school December 22nd-January 5th for Winter Break.
Mrs. Hamann, Mrs. Veldkamp, and Mr. Springman fun holiday/math shirts
MMS | A visit from The Grinch on one of the fun dress up days!
MMS | Students designed and built their own launchers using lessons on potential energy and simple machines, then put them to the test by launching cork stoppers. 🚀
Due to the weather, tonight's middle school wrestling tournament has been canceled.
Reminder: No School November 26th-28th for Thanksgiving Break.
Congrats to the MMS Staff Chili-Cook Off Winners: 1st Mrs. Torgerson, 2nd Mrs. Pickard, 3rd Mrs. Gundvaldson. And our Salsa Champion Mr. Toft.
Thank you to all the Veterans and active duty members in our community, our nation, and those abroad. A special thank you to those Veterans that spoke to our students this morning! Happy Veterans Day tomorrow!
Click on links to donate items for the MMS FCCLA Neighbors Nourished. Donate ingredients link HERE. Amazon Wishlist link HERE.
This week, we’re celebrating National School Psychology Week and recognizing the vital role our school psychologists play in supporting the success and well-being of all learners. Thank you to Nicole Anderson (Hillcrest & Camelot), Kelli Olson (Dakota Prairie & BHS), and Lauren Gruenhagen (Medary & MMS) for their dedication and impact across our district.
MMS | How many nights per week should you be reading? 6–7, of course! 😉 Mickelson Middle School's electronic sign nailed it with this nod to the “6–7” trend.
