The Shenendehowa Driver Education Program serves approximately 450 students each school year, and the course is offered during the fall, spring and summer terms.
• Fall and Spring Driver Education is offered by our Community Education Program.
• Summer Driver Education is offered by our Summer School Program.
Students are enrolled on a first come-first-serve basis by class, beginning with seniors. The course is open to all Shenendehowa students age 16 and up; non-district students are accepted only if openings remain. The course consists of 24 hours of classroom instruction and 24 hours of in-car instruction. Upon completion of the program, students receive both the Five Hour Certificate and the MV-285 Certificate used for insurance reduction and license upgrade.
Students must have a valid learners permit by the beginning of the program and practice driving at least three hours per week.
Students are required to complete 24 hours of in-classroom instruction and 24 hours of in-car instruction, therefore, perfect attendance is required. Should an emergency arise, please contact your in-car instructor or your classroom instructor; and they will arrange a make-up class. However, accommodations can only be made for emergencies. Should a student miss more than two classes, a certificate will not be issued and refunds will not be possible.
A five-hour certificate will be issued after all of the required topics have been covered. This generally requires five to six class sessions.
Please keep all certificates issued in a safe place. Driver Education certificates must be signed and the certificate numbers are registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles. As a result, acquiring a duplicate certificate requires preparation of another certificate and re-registering with NYS DMV. This is a lengthy process and may involve an additional fee.
• Go to the Summer School Web page for information on our Summer Driver Education program.
• Click here for the all Spring registration information and forms!!!
Orientation for the Spring session of Driver Education will be on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 3:30pm in the HS East Satellite Cafeteria. This orientation is mandatory for all students. Parents are encouraged to attend. The program guidelines, classroom/drive locations and other program specifics will be reviewed. This is also an excellent opportunity to clarify any questions you might have regarding the program.
As part of this 48 hour program, the student receives 24 hours of classroom instruction and 24 hours of in-car instruction (18 hours of in-car observation, and 6 hours of actual behind-the-wheel instruction). Students must pass both portions of instruction, driving and classroom, to receive the certificate of completion. In the six hours we will be working with your son or daughter behind the wheel, we cannot hope to satisfactorily prepare him/her for the New York State Road Test or make him/her an accomplished driver. Those skills are attained through practice and experience on the road. It is essential, therefore, that we have your assistance in providing as much practice time as possible for your son/daughter to drive the family car. We strongly suggest that all students obtain adequate out-of-school practice in addition to the driving and observation time provided in the driver education program.
Classroom and Driving sessions will begin on February 4 and continue through June 9, 2012 per the attached schedule. Each student will be assigned a classroom and a driving time. Classes meet on weekdays after school (specific class days will be determined based on enrollment); and Saturdays mornings. Students will also be assigned an in-car driving time based on your assigned classroom session and space availability. Driving sessions will occur on a weekday afternoon or Saturday morning. Please indicate your schedule preference on your registration form, however, be advised that classes are filled on a first come, first serve basis by grade level beginning with seniors. Registration begins January 3rd and runs through January 20, 2012. Following registration, a schedule will be posted on the student portal on January 30, 2012. After January 20th, registrations will still be accepted on a space available, first come, first serve basis. We will do our best to work with you regarding conflicts, but it is not always possible to give all students their specified choice. To be eligible for the spring session students must be 16 years of age and possess a valid driver’s permit or license prior to February 1, 2012. The fee for this program will be $386.00. Make all checks or money orders payable to Shenendehowa Central School District. Include this payment with the registration form and the behavior/attendance policy form and return to the Community Education Office in High School West. The fee is only refundable up to the start of classes. (It is important to determine the number of students participating in time to make staffing decisions.)
The minimum time requirement must be met in order to comply with Motor Vehicle regulations. Attendance is extremely important and all students must read and sign the attendance and behavior policy page. If you know you will have to miss any classes for any reason, wait and take the course during another session. Classes are offered in the fall, spring and summer terms. It is extremely difficult to attain the necessary hours to complete the program should a student miss any classes. The program coordinator must approve all make-up sessions. These will only be approved in extreme circumstances; for example, emergency hospitalization.
The goal of our program is to equip your son/daughter with the fundamental knowledge, correct operational habits, essential skills and the proper attitude for survival on our highways. After successful completion of our program, your son/daughter will be issued an MV-285 Certificate of Completion. This certificate will allow them to convert their junior license to a class D license when they are 17 years of age. This conversion allows students to drive after 9:00pm. It may also reduce the cost of your insurance premium depending on the policies of your insurance company.
Mandatory Orientation:Wednesday, February 1, 2012
First Day of Class/Driving: Saturday, February 4, 2012
NO CLASSES: February 18 through February 24
March 23
April 6 through April 13
May 26 through May 28
Snow day make up sessions will be scheduled as needed.
