Starting a Texas Education Approved Defensive Driving School

     Victoria Educational Associates has served over 15,000 students in the Victoria area during the last six years and is now actively seeking education-oriented individuals who wish to start their own defensive driving school in other areas of Texas.  School owners can work full or part-time.  Individuals, couples or small groups can work together to set up a school.  Income potential is unlimited.  You would manage your own business, choose your location, determine your own schedule and set your own prices.  Thousands of  people took defensive driving for traffic ticket dismissal and insurance discount in Texas last year.  The average fee for the six hour course is $25-$40.

     We provide all training, a State-Approved curriculum and computer record keeping technical assistance to all of our extension schools.  Our curriculum is based on Effective Teaching Practices, is fun to teach, and is highly interactive.

     We have enclosed information that should be helpful in your planning process.  We will consider you in our future plans if you have a desire to teach.  A real interest in making the roads of Texas a safer place to drive is also essential.  The pages that follow will provide you with information concerning costs, training requirements and suggested time lines necessary to set up a State-Approved Defensive Driving School.

     We operate under and obey all Texas Education Agency rules that apply to State-Approved Defensive Driving Schools.  All of our new schools and instructors must also be State-Approved and follow the rules and procedures of the State Board of Education.  To be state licensed, instructor trainees must complete twenty-four (24) clock hours of instructor development training in Victoria. Additionally, twelve (12) hours of student teaching the general public in Victoria is required.  The twelve hours of student teaching can be scheduled at a trainees convenience at a later date.

     We work closely with the Texas Education Agency and will complete all of the necessary paper work to get your new school State-Approved.  We want all prospective school owners to know all training and school operating costs in advance so that a well informed decision to start a school can be made.  We encourage all prospective school owners to verify our State-Approved status and excellent record by calling the Texas Education Agency Driver Training Section at 361-997-6500.  Our school number is CP 328.

     Training of new instructors and assistance in setting up new new schools is done on an "as needed" basis.  It is our policy not to provide assistance in setting up schools within 50 miles of Victoria, Texas or within 50 miles of one of our existing schools.

Training, Instructional Materials and Licensing Costs

Three days instructor development training (24 clock hours) at Victoria Educational Associates --- $200.00

Instructor's manual, each --- $25.00

Instructional materials kit---$25.00 (minimum one per school needed)

Twelve hours of student teaching at Victoria Educational Associates --- Free

Six video tapes @ $25.00 each --- $150.00

Original Texas Education Agency Instructor's License --- $75.00, $25.00 re-newal fee each year

Original Texas Education Agency Administrative Staff Member designation for new school-$15.00

Original Texas Education Agency license for a new school site --- $150.00

School Continuing Operating Costs

Per student fee to Victoria Educational Associates ------ $3.00

Texas Education Agency certificate for each student ---- $1.70

Postage per student--------------------------------$ .34

Equipment and Facilities Needed

     At least a 19" T. V. , VCR and maybe an overhead projector are needed.  A quiet room to seat at least 20 people is also needed.  A telephone answering machine (about $150.00) with an unlimited outgoing message is also recommended unless you have someone who can take calls 24 hours a day.  You must charge your students a minimum $25.00 fee. The average fee in Texas is $25-$40.  If you are creative, you can try different ideas to attract students to your school. Effective instruction in a well known location, a competitive price, personal networking, and effective advertising are the essentials of a successful school.  A good starting point to determine the level of competition in your area is to check the telephone book yellow pages under Driving Instruction.

     Places where classes can be held include civic centers, public school classrooms, community colleges, restaurant meeting rooms, chambers of commerce, hotels, banks, business meeting rooms or leased buildings.  Extension schools should plan to offer at least one six hour class per month to be successful.  Every Saturday, every other Saturday (8:00 A.M. - 2:30 P.M.) or every Tuesday and Thursday (6:00 P.M - 9:00 P.M.) is another scheduling strategy.  The classes have to be available when most of the general public is not at work.  The class can be taught in a one day format (Saturdays) or in two 3 hour sessions such as Tuesday and Thursday nights.  We explain specific marketing techniques in our instructor development training.

     After you receive your instructors license the Texas Education Agency requires at least 30 days advance notice before a new extension school can begin operation.  If, for example, you complete instructor training and student teaching by February 21, 2001, you should receive your State license by March 21, 2001 and be able to open your new school about April 1, 2001.

     Our next instructor training session is not yet scheduled.  The twelve hours of student teaching, which is required after the three days of professional development, can be scheduled at your convenience.  It must be done at our location in one of our regularly scheduled classes.

     For overnight accommodations, room reservations should be made directly with the hotel of your choice.  Listed below are several of Victoria's largest:

Holiday Inn 361-575-0215

Motel 6 361-573-1273

La Quinta Inn 361-572-3585

Hampton Inn 361-578-2030

     Continental Airlines has commuter service that connects to all major airlines in Houston. There are several flights in and out Victoria each day.

If you have additional questions please contact us via phone, mail, or e-mail.