On Friday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jim Tressel announced $6 million in grants to help young Ohioans access driver education.
The funding, through the Ohio Traffic Safety Office’s (OTSO) Drive to Succeed Program, will provide scholarships for new drivers under 21, helping remove financial barriers for families.
Four educational service centers (ESCs) will each receive $1.5 million over the next two years to manage scholarships in their regions:
- East Central Ohio ESC
- Fairfield County ESC
- Midwest Regional ESC
- North Central Ohio ESC
The grants are expected to fund scholarships for more than 10,000 students statewide.
“Being able to drive opens doors to jobs, school, and so many aspects of daily life,” said Governor DeWine. “Through the Drive to Succeed program, we are making sure that more young people across Ohio have the chance to safely earn their license and build a stronger future for themselves.”
The program, launched in 2022, has already helped over 5,100 students pay for the classroom and behind-the-wheel training required to get a license.
The four ESCs have up to 150 days to start their scholarship programs.
Students can then visit the Drive to Succeed 2026 website to apply through their regional ESC.
