he Orcas Island Driver Education Pilot Project is a community-driven effort to bring free, high-quality driver’s education to students at Orcas Island High School (OIHS).

Led by Peach Pit, this program partners with Skagit 911 Driving School to offer weekly virtual classes during the Wednesday elective period throughout Semester 2 of the 2025–26 school year.

Students gain valuable instruction, earn elective credit, and receive hands-on driving practice — all while overcoming the financial and logistical barriers that often prevent rural students from learning to drive.

Priority enrollment will go first to seniors who still need Driver’s Ed, then open to juniors and sophomores as space allows.

Format: Hybrid classroom instruction (Skagit 911) held at OIHS
Cost to Students: Free
Credit: .25 elective credit (pass/fail)
Schedule: Wednesdays, 12:20–2:20 PM (17 sessions total)
Semester: February–June 2026
Driving Practice: 5 off-island drives + 1 observation (pickup in Anacortes)
Testing: Written and final drive tests in Anacortes or Mount Vernon

Peach Pit staff will coordinate scheduling, ferry rides, and family communication to ensure every student can complete the full program successfully.

For young people on Orcas Island, learning to drive is more than just a milestone — it’s a gateway to independence, employment, and self-reliance.

By offering this program free of charge, we’re empowering teens who might otherwise wait years to gain this essential skill. Students learn responsibility, build confidence, and take ownership of their readiness to drive safely.

They also earn school credit and connect their learning to real-life outcomes — developing a sense of capability that extends far beyond the road.

Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. Research consistently shows that comprehensive driver education saves lives by reducing risky driving behaviors, improving judgment, and reinforcing safe driving habits from the start. 

Because driver education has become harder to access—due to rising costs, fewer school‑based options, and logistical barriers—some teens delay getting their license or go ahead and drive without a valid license. 

This program provides structured, certified instruction through Skagit 911 Driving School, taught by law enforcement professionals who emphasize defensive driving, situational awareness, and lifelong safety practices.

By investing in driver education, we’re investing in a safer community for everyone who shares the road.

For many Orcas Island teens, the biggest barrier to earning a driver’s license isn’t motivation — it’s access.

Most driver’s education programs are held virtually, in the evenings, or on weekends — times that simply don’t work for many local youth who work after school, help care for siblings, are parents themselves, or participate in sports and extracurricular activities. On top of that, traveling off-island adds significant cost and logistical hurdles: ferry fares, lost work hours, and coordination with adult drivers for long commutes.

By offering this course during the school day, we’re removing those barriers and ensuring that every student — regardless of schedule, family responsibilities, or financial means — has a fair chance to complete driver’s education.

Since Washington State cut funding for in-school programs in the early 2000s, the cost of private driver’s education (typically $600–$800) and the lack of local options have made it even harder for rural youth to participate. This pilot project changes that by making driver’s education free, local, and built into the school schedule — with community coordination to support the off-island components like drives and testing.

Through this effort, students gain not only their licenses but also greater independence, access to jobs and opportunities, and the confidence that comes from mastering a life skill that opens doors.

Washington State is expanding its driver education requirements — and soon, completing an approved driver’s ed course will be mandatory for new drivers up to age 21.

Recent legislation (HB 1878 / SB 5583), known as the Young Driver Safety laws, is being phased in over several years:

• Age 18: Required training begins January 1, 2027

• Age 19: Required training begins January 1, 2028

• Age 20: Required training begins January 1, 2029

• Age 21: Required training begins January 1, 2030
  

This change reflects growing evidence that first-time drivers without formal training are at much higher risk of collisions, regardless of age.

For Orcas Island youth, these updates make access to driver’s education more essential than ever. Offering the course locally—during the school day and at no cost—ensures students can meet state requirements early, safely, and affordably.

This pilot project positions our community ahead of the curve: preparing students for the future of Washington’s licensing system and ensuring every young driver starts their journey with knowledge, skill, and confidence.

• Peach Pit – Project coordination, fundraising, and family support

• Skagit 911 Driving School – Instruction, testing, and driving logistics

• Orcas Island High School – Classroom space, supervision, and credit

• Funhouse Commons – Fiscal sponsorship through the GiveOrcas campaign

• Parents and Students – Engagement, participation, and mentorship

Together, we’re creating a model that could shape how small and rural communities across Washington State deliver equitable access to essential life skills.

Peach Pit is fundraising $15,000 to cover tuition for 20 students and program coordination. Your donation directly supports island youth by funding their driver education, transportation, and safety training.

Donate through GiveOrcas.org or contact Peach Pit to learn how you can support this effort.