JEFFERSON TWP — Knoch School District is reintroducing its “behind the wheel” driver’s education program, providing a valuable resource to its high schoolers.

Superintendent David Foley said at the school board’s Wednesday, April 1, meeting the district previously had a program for its own students, but has not had any employees in recent years with the certifications to teach the classes.

In Pennsylvania, driver’s education instructors need to be certified through the state Department of Education.

“There’s in-the-classroom training, and there’s behind-the-wheel training too that requires certification. And we have two teachers who have stepped up to get those certifications, so we’re fortunately able to put it back in,” Foley said.

Diehl Automotive has donated a car to Knoch School District for students to use during instruction.

Previously, the district offered the instruction during the summer. Board president Donna Eakin said students will now be able to take the courses during the school year, too, and that the program will allow students to take their driver’s license tests through the district.

Knoch School District includes roughly 2,050 students, and covers about 100 square miles, with a district population of nearly 20,000 residents. The new program will be an important resource, school officials said, for its high school students who are looking to get their licenses and learning to drive on the district’s roads.