Kansas is starting later than initially planned with a new online portal for taking applications for driver’s education permits from young residents.

The Department of Revenue expects the portal to be available May 5. The department previously planned to have it available April 1.

Department spokeswoman Jeanine Koranda said Tuesday the delay was caused by last-minute improvements to make the portal run more smoothly for driving instructors.

With the new format, an instructor will be able to fill out an online form and immediately print out the permit if there are no issues that require additional review. In the past, the forms had to be mailed to Topeka, and processing them could take several weeks.

Each year the department handles about 50,000 driver’s ed applications.