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Miami, FL - A Miami summer school program is helping high school students bypass the months-long DMV queue and earn their driver’s licenses faster than many adults.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools recently reintroduced driver’s education as part of its Summer 305 initiative.
Once a statewide requirement, the course is now being offered at select high schools, including Southridge, to combat ongoing delays at Florida’s DMV offices.
Students enrolled in the program not only receive classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel training, but they also get to take the state’s written and driving tests as part of the course.
One major perk: successful students are given exclusive access to DMV appointment slots, cutting out the long wait times that have frustrated residents across Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
According to Southridge assistant principal David Duque, the program gives kids the rare chance to “skip the line,” something even his own mother had trouble doing when she waited months for a reservation.
Many students also qualify for auto insurance discounts upon completion.
The high demand for DMV appointments in the region has led to reports of scalpers reselling time slots for hundreds of dollars.
In response, local authorities have cracked down on the practice, with new penalties aimed at stopping appointment hoarding.
Officials say more staff and extended service hours have been added at local offices to help meet the demand.
While adults are encouraged to book appointments well in advance, high schoolers in Miami may have found the fastest lane to get on the road this summer.