In 2023, the Mercer County Educational Service Center (ESC) was awarded a $10,000 Drive to Succeed grant from the Ohio Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO), to provide scholarships for students attending a school in our service districts to assist with the cost of Driver's Education classes. This initial award is available until funds are depleted, or for 2 years.

In 2024, the (ESC) was awarded an additional $24,750 in Drive to Succeed funding. This second round award will allow the ESC to continue to provide scholarships for an additional 2 more years.

To be eligible to participate, a student must: 

• Be referred by a school staff member associated with one of the school districts listed (Application Part 1 must be completed by the school office).

• Be over age 15 at the time of application

• Qualify for Free/Reduced Lunch

• Have no more than 3 unexcused absences from school in the most recent preceding semester

• Student should have their Temporary Instruction Permit or will be eligible to obtain their permit in order to complete training.

Eligibility criteria must be verified by school office staff from our ESC service districts, using Application Part 1 (rev. 02/27/25). 

Next, the ESC will connect with the student, giving the student Application Part 2 that includes:

• A personal statement (3-5 sentences) to explain their financial need 

• Acknowledgement and understanding that students must have or be eligible to obtain an Ohio Temporary Instruction Permit in order to complete training.  Go to https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/dl-gdl.aspx for requirements and documentation.

• A parent or guardian signature that also acknowledges financial need and that the student has or will be able to obtain their learner's permit as part of the process.

The ESC will review all application materials and then connect the student to a partnering driving school. ESC partner driving schools, identified in the both grant applications, are Capabilities (St. Marys), Driving School by Mel (Celina) and St. Henry Driving School. The ESC will pay the driving school directly on behalf of the scholarship recipients. Participating students will be required to pay a $25 cost-sharing deposit (cash or check only), which will be returned to the student upon completion of driver’s education. 

In addition, students will be required to participate in follow-up surveys from OTSO, to help the department track the effectiveness of the program, identify additional barriers and assess the extent to which the scholarship results in real-life, positive impact for the youth driver recipients.

To begin, please have a school staff member email the completed Application Part 1 (rev. 02/27/25) form to Sandi Holdheide at the Mercer County ESC. Students will be sent Part 2 after eligibility has been verified.

Questions? Please email or call 419-586-6628.