Since 1954, Littleton Public Schools’ Driver Education program has prepared generations of students for the road ahead–literally. With over 60,000 students taught, more than 150,000 hours of driving instruction, and 1 million miles logged with student drivers, LPS continues to be a leader in driver education.

As the only school district in the Denver metro area still operating its own driver education programs, LPS sets itself apart with exceptional instruction, vehicles with high safety ratings, and unmatched affordability. “We are the least expensive program in the metro area–by at least $100, if not more,” said Dave Vanoni, LPS Driver Education Coordinator and longtime educator.

Currently, the program operates a fleet of six 2024 Subaru Crosstreks, leased through a long-standing partnership with Centennial Leasing. The program previously benefited from many years of support from Burt Chevrolet in Littleton and continues to receive generous backing from community partners such as the Honda Corporation, the LPS Foundation, and the E-470 Transportation Safety Foundation.

In fact, LPS was recently awarded a $2,500 grant from the E-470 Transportation Safety Foundation for 2025. This funding will be used to provide one scholarship per high school/program–Arapahoe, Heritage, Littleton, Options, and EPIC Campus–awarded through each school’s counseling department based on student need. “We are grateful for this support, which helps remove financial barriers and makes safe, quality driver education accessible for more students,” said Vanoni.

What further sets LPS’s program apart is the quality of its educators. All 19 instructors are licensed teachers–many of whom also teach in LPS middle and high schools–and many hold advanced degrees. Students enrolled in the program receive 0.25 high school graduation credit upon completion.

“I have been teaching driver education for 28-plus years and taught driver education during the school day in Chicago years ago,” shared Vanoni. “I was thrilled to be hired in LPS in 2005 and additionally teach driver education. We believe that operation of a motor vehicle is a necessary lifelong skill that a student needs to function in a mobile society, and we are honored to offer this program in our school district.” 

As the district looks ahead, this commitment to preparing students for real-world success remains strong.