Montana Traffic Education News - Spring 2021

Building the Thinking Driver will bring national and local speakers together to share the latest research, active learning strategies, and teen driver safety issues and solutions. Pre-register by April 15 to attend the spring conference of traffic safety educators in Montana, April 25-27 at the Heritage Inn in Great Falls. The MTEA board considered options for a virtual conference, but for many reasons decided it was not feasible. 

All MTEA members and active traffic education teachers in Montana were mailed the Spring 2021 MTEA News with conference details and a registration form. 

For more information, visit MTEA's website at MTEAOnline.org. 

Come to Lewistown this summer for a fun and active behind-the-wheel workshop that improves driver skill and confidence. 

Workshops are selling out!  Register soon!

Operated by the OPI since 1979, our professional driving instructors have trained more than 16,000 drivers in off-road recovery, skid control, and evasive maneuvers. Montana DRIVE summer advanced driving workshops include two hours of classroom instruction and six hours driving vehicles on a safe, closed track adjacent to the Lewistown Airport.

The one-day workshop is limited to 12 drivers per day. Teachers can earn up to 9 renewal units or one college credit when they stay an extra day to student teach. School bus drivers can earn training hours toward their professional development requirements. The one-day workshops begin June 7 and end August 12. 

Teen Week is July 19-23 and registration for the one-day teen workshops is open!  State Farm scholarships are limited to 36 teens at $150 each (applied to the $300 fee). The teen advanced driving workshop is not a replacement for driver education. Teens must have one year of driving experience and a valid driver license to attend.

Visit Montana DRIVE for registration details and to view the 2021 workshop calendar.

Traffic education teachers are in demand in Montana. MSUN's summer program is accepting applications for the initial 8 credits of coursework that can qualify a teacher to teach driver education in a Montana school. Additional coursework can be earned for teachers needing credits as they work toward their Traffic Education endorsement.

Visit MSUN’s Traffic Education site for details or contact Sandy Jappe via email at sjappe@msun.edu or by phone at (406) 265-4148.

TE01 District Applications must be approved before courses begin. Use the Traffic Education Data & Reporting System (TEDRS) to submit the application or download the application at the OPI's Driver Education website. Summer 2021 courses ending before June 30, 2021, are entered in the 2021 school year. Courses ending on or after July 1, 2021, are entered in the 2022 school year.

Remember to have all student lists completed in TEDRS and paperwork submitted to the MVD exam stations on time.The TE06 Year-end Report must be submitted to the OPI no later than July 10, 2021. The reimbursement payment to school districts is made in August.

Visit http://opi.mt.gov/DriverEd for traffic education program requirements, forms and reports, and traffic education resources for schools and families.

Traffic Education Teachers: The CDTP Refresher Course on the OPI's Teacher Learning Hub is updated and ready to be taken again (or for the first time). If you've taken the one-hour course before, you can take it again for one renewal unit.

This one-hour online course doesn't replace the six-hour certification course for new teachers, but it's a good overview of the processes and procedures for issuing learner licenses and waiving road tests. You can also download an updated CDTP Training Manual and Quick Reference Guide with MVD Regional Manager contacts.  If you want to take this course, please contact Patti Borneman for the Enrollment Key.