For years teens have been taking driver's ed to get their licenses before turning sixteen and a half and earn a high school credit. Students get up in the summer at an early hour to go back to the school. At EH, teens took driver's ed tests and once or twice a week practiced driving on the road. The tests taught students the rules of the road and the driving experience gave student drivers real life experiences. This past summer, pupils gathered in the classroom ready to get the class over with and get their licenses, daydreaming about road trips with their friends. Soon after this school year started one of the driver's ed instructors, a retired teacher, Mr. Hood, called several new drivers down to the auditorium and told them something that made their hearts drop with disappointment.
            Mr. Hood told the new drivers that the state of Indiana changed the grading on the driving certificates to a pass of fail grade. Indiana decided that the failing point would be an eighty percent; people below and eight percent had to do extra credit to bring their grade up to pass and get their licenses at sixteen and a half. If they did not pass the extra credit that was given to the drivers, they would have to wait an additional five months' time to receive their license. The extra credit given to the students had three parts; and the more points students need to pass the more parts of the extra credit students are required to do. Elizabeth Carlton said, “I didn’t think it was easy but I thought it was fair.”
            Mr. Hood told the students that Indiana changed the rule and supposedly sent a letter to all Eastern Hancock students affected by the change.  Most students says that letter was not received.
Although some students were annoyed with the extra assignment most of the drivers put a smile on their face. Students who passed the extra credit will still get their license early and still get the class credit.