Manatee schools can apply for grant to enhance driver ed programs

MANATEE -- Manatee County public and private schools can apply for up to $150,000 in financial assistance to enhance existing driver education programs.

Until Oct. 14, public and private schools offering driver education courses can apply for the state funding grant administered by Manatee County government.

"This money cannot be used to replace funding from existing sources and cannot be used for administrative expenses," according to the news release. "The county cannot directly fund programs offered by private driving schools."

The Manatee County Driver Education Safety Trust Fund is made possible through the Dori Slosberg Driver Education Safety Act. Slosberg, daughter of state Rep. Irv Slosberg, D-Delray Beach, was killed in a 1996 car accident where another teenager was driving, according to the release. Florida counties collect an additional $5 with each civil traffic penalty to be used to improve teenage driving skills.

This story was originally published October 2, 2015 at 12:04 AM with the headline "Manatee schools can apply for grant to enhance driver ed programs ."