AMES, Iowa -- Iowa parents will be able to give their kids drivers license tests during the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.
"We don't need to prevent those students from taking that exam at this point in time. We'll go ahead and have parents apply to be proctors--that's just one piece out of that process that can be checked off the list" says Darcy Doty, the Iowa Department of Transportation's Director for Driver and Identification Services.
She says parents, or other legal guardians who want to give their kids drivers tests must first register on their website.
"It'll give them a page where they can complete an application to be a proctor for their student. We then review that application on our side, and provide back an e-mail to the parent that says 'O.K we've approved your application to be a proctor'" Doty says.
She says parents will register their kids' passing scores, then make an appointment with the DOT to file the rest of the necessary paperwork for the license.
Doty says a lot of students who would have been given tests in drivers' education classes lost the chance when schools closed.
She says they'll listen to feedback on how the system works, and could continue it when the pandemic subsides.