Illinois DSD CDTS 56 Home-Schooled Consent Form – Parents and guardians of homeschooled teens in Illinois who want their child to take driver education through a licensed commercial driver training school must complete Form DSD CDTS 56. This official Illinois Secretary of State document provides the required parental consent and confirms the student’s home-schooled status. It is an essential step for teens ages 15–17 seeking an instruction permit and eventual driver’s license under Illinois’ Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program.
This guide covers everything U.S. families need to know about Form DSD CDTS 56, including its purpose, how to fill it out, eligibility rules, and trusted download options. All information is drawn from current official Illinois sources.
What Is Form DSD CDTS 56?
Form DSD CDTS 56 is the official “Home-Schooled Parental Consent Form” issued by the Illinois Secretary of State’s Commercial Driver Training School (CDTS) Section. The most recent version is dated January 2023 (DSD CDTS 56.3).
The form serves one clear purpose: it allows a homeschooled student to receive driving instruction from a state-licensed commercial driver training school. The commercial school fills out the student information section, and the parent/guardian plus the student sign the consent portion.
It is distinct from the Driver Education Approval Form (DSD CDTS 54), which is used when a student attends a traditional public or private high school and requires school administrator verification of academic eligibility.
Official listing of the form appears on the Illinois Secretary of State’s Commercial Drivers Publications and Forms page: ilsos.gov Commercial Driver Training forms.
Who Needs to Complete Form DSD CDTS 56?
This form is required for homeschooled students (typically ages 15–17) who enroll in a commercial (private) driver training school rather than a public high school driver education program. Parents or legal guardians of the homeschooled student must sign it.
Key points for U.S. families living in Illinois:
- The student must be homeschooled (Illinois treats homeschooling as a form of private education under the compulsory attendance law).
- The driving instruction must be provided by a commercial driver training school licensed by the Illinois Secretary of State.
- The form is not needed for public school driver education enrollment (different documentation applies).
- It supports the application for an instruction permit once the student is enrolled in an approved course.
For students ages 18–20 who never completed driver education, a separate six-hour adult driver education course is required; Form DSD CDTS 56 is generally not used in that pathway.
How to Complete and Submit Form DSD CDTS 56?
The form has two main sections:
Portion completed by the Driver Training School
- Name and address of the commercial driver training school
- Student’s full name (Last, First, Middle)
- Student’s street address, city or town, and ZIP code
Portion completed by the Student and Parent/Guardian
- Statement confirming the student is home-schooled and granting permission to take driving instructions from the commercial school
- Name of parent/guardian
- Parent/guardian address, city/town, phone number, and ZIP code
- Signature of the student and date
- Signature of the parent/guardian and date
Print the form, complete all fields accurately, sign where indicated, and submit it to the commercial driver training school according to their instructions (often before or on the first day of class). Keep a copy for your records. The school uses the completed form as part of the documentation required for the student’s instruction permit process.
Official Download Link for Form DSD CDTS 56
Download the current official PDF directly from the Illinois Secretary of State:
Download Illinois Form DSD CDTS 56 (PDF)
Always download from the official .gov domain to ensure you have the latest version. Forms should be opened in Adobe Acrobat Reader for best results when filling electronically, though printing and handwriting is also acceptable.
Driver Education Options for Homeschooled Students in Illinois
Illinois law requires school districts that offer grades 9–12 to make both classroom and behind-the-wheel driver education available to eligible homeschooled students who reside in the district (Illinois School Code Sections 27-24.2 and 27-24.4). Families have two main pathways:
- Public high school driver education — Often lower cost. Parents typically notify the district by April 1 for the following school year and must provide evidence of passing grades in at least eight courses during the previous two semesters (or seek a waiver). A different verification process is used instead of DSD CDTS 56.
- Commercial (private) driver training school — More flexible scheduling. Requires Form DSD CDTS 56 for homeschooled students. These schools are licensed and regulated by the Illinois Secretary of State.
Helpful resources include the Illinois Homeschoolers Association page on driver’s education: ILHSA Drivers Education guidance, and the official instruction permit requirements: Illinois SOS Instruction Permit page.
Key Requirements for Instruction Permits and Licensing
After completing the required driver education (via public or commercial program), homeschooled teens follow the standard Illinois GDL process:
- Must be at least 15 years old and enrolled in (or recently enrolled in) an approved driver education course to apply for an instruction permit.
- Hold the permit for a minimum of nine months.
- Complete at least 50 hours of supervised practice driving (including 10 hours at night), certified by a parent or guardian.
- Pass vision, written, and road tests as required.
- Parent/guardian written consent is also needed when applying for the full driver’s license (ages 16–17).
Additional guidance appears in the Illinois Rules of the Road publication available from the Secretary of State.
Related Forms and Resources
Other commonly used forms for commercial driver training include:
- DSD CDTS 54 — Driver Education Approval Form (for traditional school students)
- DSD CDTS 55 — Driver Education Waiver Form
Full lists of commercial driver training publications are maintained on the official Illinois Secretary of State website. For questions about commercial schools or forms, contact the Commercial Driver Training School Section (West Chicago office) or visit ilsos.gov.
Homeschooling families may also find support through organizations such as the Illinois Christian Home Educators or the Illinois Homeschoolers Association, which provide practical advice on navigating public school access and private options.
Final Tips for Illinois Families
Start early—contact both your local high school (to explore the public option) and licensed commercial schools to compare schedules, costs, and availability. Always use the official Form DSD CDTS 56 downloaded from the Illinois Secretary of State website. Keep copies of all submitted documents, and verify that any commercial school is currently licensed before enrolling.
By completing Form DSD CDTS 56 correctly, homeschooled students gain access to quality driver education and move smoothly toward safe, independent driving under Illinois law. For the most current rules, refer directly to the Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services resources.