MVSKOKE RESERVATION – The 16th birthday has traditionally marked an exciting time for youth because it means they are old enough to legally obtain a driver’s license. However, according to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, are not eager to get behind the wheel. One in every 25 licensed drivers in the U.S. is 19 or younger. Teens with driver’s licenses have been in decline since the 1980s. Muscogee (Creek) Nation Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is meeting the needs of new student drivers by providing driver’s education through their Accelerate program. This provides opportunities for students to obtain either a driver’s license or learner’s permit at an affordable cost.
The program has been active for over two years and is open to all students ages 16-21. Initially the program only had the capacity to teach 15-student classes. That number has now grown.
ETA Youth Coordinator Cody Evans (Mvskoke) explained that the Accelerate Program was developed to provide driver’s education for students who otherwise did not have the option through school. Many public schools no longer offer driver’s ed as a standard curriculum.
“That was one of the issues that we encountered when this program first started,” Evans said. “A lot of schools pulled away from teaching driver’s ed at school. For the ones that did not, the waiting list was so long, so we reached out to Green Country Technology Center to find an instructor to teach this class.”
Evans noted that another obstacle students face may simply be test anxiety when taking a written or field test. Through Accelerate, the program is able to meet students where they are at.
“With our Native students across the reservation, we’re able to host private classes for them,” Evans said. “We go out to community centers. We go out to schools as well. Holdenville and Union are pretty common participants. The Eufaula Dormitory as well.”
Evans is assisted in the Accelerate Program by Program Assistant Nave Cully (Cherokee) and Youth Specialist Kristi Losh (Mvskoke). Together the team has found success in reaching and teaching Native students how to drive, even in spite of the low number of teen drivers on the road.
“I believe the Accelerate program is really successful with reaching our Native youth,” Culley said. “Our Native youth are excited to take that next step on their way to adulthood.”
Accelerate does not exclusively take in Mvskoke citizens, non citizens are eligible to participate as well. However, non citizens must fall within the income guidelines. Additionally, ETA offers reimbursements for driver’s permits and license fees. Receipts for license fees must be submitted to ETA within two weeks of obtaining the license.
The program also tries to keep costs down as much as possible. Tuition for each student costs $450. This includes private classroom instruction, driving hours, test fees and a practice test.
When applying, ETA recommends applicants call the department to make sure all required documents have been submitted and received. Required documents for the program are tribal citizenship card, or CDIB card, Social Security card, proof of residence and income verification for each household member.
Although the amount of required documents could be daunting for applicants, Evans says that it should not discourage them from applying. ETA will work with applicants to make sure all documents are accounted for. To learn more about the Accelerate Driver’s Education Program, contact 918-732-7773, or email eta@muscogeenation.com.
