Indian Prairie School District 204 wants to charge Naperville-area families more than $250 for driver's education. The district has scheduled a public hearing to seek state permission to raise fees above the statutory cap at Neuqua Valley, Metea Valley and Waubonsie Valley high schools.
The district posted a notice on its website announcing the hearing for Monday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. at Crouse Education Center, 780 Shoreline Drive, Aurora. If approved, the waiver would cover five school years, from 2027-28 through 2031-32.
The proposed new fee amount is unknown. The district has not released a board memo or press statement explaining how much it wants to charge or why.
What the law allows now
Under Illinois law, school districts can charge up to $50 for driver's education. A board can raise that ceiling to $250 through a resolution and public hearing, according to state law. Anything above $250 requires a waiver from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) under Section 2-3.25g of the Illinois School Code.
Other Illinois districts have pursued similar waivers. Geneva Community Unit School District 304 applied to ISBE in 2023 to raise its driver's ed fee to $500.
Budget context
The fee request comes as District 204 navigates a projected $5.8 million deficit for the 2026-27 school year. That gap represents about 1.2% of the district's $476 million operating budget, as NCTV17 reported.
Board President Laurie Donahue said at the August 2026 board meeting that the district plans to use reserves to cover the shortfall. "We have to continue to look for ways to tighten our belt," Donahue said at that meeting, according to NCTV17.
The district is also reviewing more than 200 initiatives for cost efficiency. Its 2026-27 budget adds 15 full-time-equivalent special education positions and increases spending by 18% to transport students to out-of-district special education placements.
What families should know
Illinois law requires that driver's ed fees be waived for students who cannot afford them. All fee revenue must go into a separate fund used only for the program. Parents can offer public comment at the Nov. 9 hearing. No date for a subsequent board vote on the waiver has been announced.
School week ahead
- Monday, Nov. 9, 7 p.m. — District 204 Board of Education public hearing on driver's education fee waiver, Crouse Education Center, 780 Shoreline Drive, Aurora (District 204). Public comment will be taken.
