*****************************************************************************************

We wish to inform you that registration for 2022 SPRING Driver Education program is open. The registration form will stay on the district website until we reach the maximum number of students that the program can accommodate for the SPRING semester.  If you have any questions regarding the Driver Education program, please call Mr. Matthew P. Keltos, Coordinator of Driver Education, at (631) 912-2107.

ELIGIBILITY

Only 11th and 12th grade Commack High School students, who are in good standing and have met all their academic requirements for their present school year, are eligible to enroll. Students must be sixteen years of age and must be a junior or senior. 

NO STUDENTS IN GRADE 10 CAN ENROLL.

Tuition

The fee for the sixteen-week program is dependent on the number of enrollees and should range between $300-$400.  The final cost will be determined by 1/18/2022 payable by check/money order to the Commack School District or through SchoolPay where that total will be determined by 1/18/2022 due to a service charge dependent on the final cost.   The fee for the sixteen-week program is payable by check/money order to the Commack School District or through Schoolpay where the total will be determined by 1/18/2022.   Payment can be made by check, e-check or credit card starting 1/18/2021.  If paying by e-check or credit card you can access our online processing system by clicking on the SchoolPay link located on the home page of the Commack Website at www.commackschools.org  under the parents resource tab. If paying by SchoolPay, please print out and attach a copy of your confirmation page with the completed application. SchoolPay will be an option as we approach the Parent Meeting in January.

NOTE: When paying by SchoolPay, a non-refundable fee is charged by SchoolPay to process this payment. This fee is NOT charged by the Commack UFSD and is NOT refundable.

REGISTRATION

Students must have a valid NYS driving permit with photo when submitting the registration form online.

After completing the on-line registration form, a photocopy of the student’s valid NYS driving permit with photo, and check/money order or confirmation of payment through SchoolPay must be presented on 1/18/22 and 1/19/22. Without ALL proper and complete documentation, the registration form will not be processed. 

The REGISTRATION FORM is linked to this page. 

Registration forms are processed on a first come, first serve basis. After you register online, there will be a communication via email or phone to ensure that you will be taking the spot in the program.  Please be advised that lecture days and times may not all run so please choose two to be placed best.

CALENDAR SCHEDULE

A calendar schedule for the SPRING dates will be linked to this page.  As there is a firm attendance policy, please review these dates to determine if the SPRING semester will work for the student’s schedule. If the student is involved in sports at CHS, then another program will be a better fit for the student driver.  Feel free to reach out if you need assistance with the search.

REQUIREMENTS

There are two components to this program which involves WEEKLY CLASS LECTURE and WEEKLY DRIVING INSTRUCTION which will be done by the parent or guardian; the program culminates at the end of a sixteen-week course. Upon successful completion of the course the student will receive an MV-285 Student Certificate of Completion and the parent/guardian will be able to download and fill out the MV-262 Certificate of Supervised Driving. 

ATTENDANCE / ABSENCE POLICY

There are only three [3] absences permitted from the sixteen [16] week CLASSROOM LABORATORY component. Each absence must be made up. If an absence is not made up the student will not receive a passing grade or certificate. Upon a 4th absence from in class instruction, the student will be removed from the program with no refund issued nor a certificate awarded.

The classroom and driving calendar is linked below for you to review to make your requests for scheduling. Requests DO NOT guarantee that the student will be assigned to requested time slots. Once you receive confirmation of your  assigned schedule, changes will not be made; therefore, please choose carefully – consider all academic responsibilities including SAT/ACT testing, review classes, music/drama commitments, college visitations, after-school commitments also including sport schedules and events, club activities, volunteer responsibilities, employment schedules and family obligations in accordance with the attendance/absence policy stated above before choosing to enroll in this program.  

We suggest that students and parent/guardians thoroughly discuss this commitment and the attendance policy as there will not be any exceptions. Once the session begins, there will not be any refunds issued. 

MANDATORY INFORMATIONAL ASSEMBLY

There is a mandatory informational assembly that requires BOTH a parent/guardian and the student to attend on Wednesday January 18, 2022 or Thursday January 19, 2022 at 7 pm in the High School Auditorium.  Absence from this assembly by either a parent/guardian or the student will result in the student not being able to participate in the program. There are no substitutions or “stand in” parent/guardians allowed.

LECTURE CLASS SCHEDULE

Weekday lecture class meets once a week for sixteen [16] weeks.  Students will have the option to request:

Tuesday: 3:15 - 4:45 or 4:45 - 6:15 PM

Wednesday: 3:15 - 4:45 or 4:45 - 6:15 PM

Thursday: 3:15 - 4:45 or 4:45 - 6:15 PM

 Based on the number of students enrolled, classes may be consolidated and the total number of classes running may not be the six options. Once schedules are assigned there will not be any changes.  Every effort is made to accommodate all student requests; however, not all requests will be able to be accommodated due to enrollment numbers. 

MV-285 STUDENT CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

Upon successful completion of the sixteen-week course, which requires receiving a passing grade for the lecture and driving components, student will receive an MV-285 Student Certificate of Completion. You will need the certification number to schedule an appointment for a road test. Additionally, this certificate must be presented at the time of the road test. 

Receiving a passing grade is contingent upon attendance, class work, driving assessments, student’s driving progression each week, participation, and attitude in both classroom and car. Classroom instruction is provided by Driver Education Instructors who have been certified in a Driver Education course. Driving instruction is provided through a contracted Professional Driving School.

MV-262 CERTIFICATE OF SUPERVISED DRIVING

Upon successful completion of this sixteen-week course, which involves receiving a passing grade for the lecture and driving components, the parent/guardian of the student will be able to download and complete the MV-262.  Parent/guardian is responsible for the remaining forty-four [44] hours of driving of which fifteen [15] must be night driving. This (MV-262) certificate must be presented at the time of road test. 

Please note that the Driver Education program is a service provided to the students of this district and is not part of the regular high school academic curriculum; therefore, a student does not receive any high school credit upon completion of it. As the Commack School District works in compliance with the Department of Motor Vehicle to facilitate this program, it cannot administratively excuse a student for any school activity which may contribute to student exceeding the maximum of three absences.

The Five Hour Driving Course, offered through professional driving schools, does not work in conjunction with the course offered here.  The Commack School District does not issue the MV-278 certificate that is distributed upon completion of the Five Hour Driving Course. Please understand that this policy has been instituted by our Board of Education and the Commack School District Administration after careful deliberation for student safety and education concerning driving practices at a young age.

Should there need to be any changes made during the sixteen-week program the student will be informed either by the classroom instructor, postings on the school website, through our School Messenger telephone system and/or by an email sent to the requested email address listed on registration form.

For, questions or concerns please email: [email protected] or call 631-912-2152 or 631-912-2107.

Mr. Matthew P. Keltos

Coordinator of Driver Education