Greetings Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers,
We wish to inform you that registration for 2024 Fall Driver's 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 Fall 2024 semester. If you have any questions regarding the Driver's 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.
Tuition (The higher the number of registrations the lower the cost of the program)
The maximum fee (based on low driver enrollment) for the 16-week program should be $900 ( average rate is between $725-$775) payable by check/money order to the Commack School District or through SchoolPay where the total will be found in SchoolPay. This will be reduced with more student registrations. Payment can be made by check on the night of the mandatory meeting. You can access our online processing system by clicking on the SchoolPay link located on the home page of the Commack Website under the parents resource tab. If paying by SchoolPay, please print out your confirmation page with the and bring it to the mandatory meeting in September.
NOTE: When paying by SchoolPay, a nonrefundable fee is charged by SchoolPay to process this payment. This fee is NOT charged by the Commack UFSD and is therefore NOT refundable.
REGISTRATION
· Students must have a valid NYS driving permit with photo when submitting the registration form.
· A Google registration form to be found on the District website must be completed to secure a spot in the Program. Also a photo copy of the student’s valid NYS driving permit with photo is due on the night of the mandatory meeting, and check/money order or confirmation of payment through SchoolPay must be sent presented at the mandatory meeting on September 4th or 5th . This meeting will be at CHS in the Auditorium at 6:30 PM. Without ALL proper and complete documentation that day, the registration cannot be finalized.
On line registration forms are processed on a first come, first serve basis. Once registered you will be contacted via email notification or phone call to insure interest. You will be given the final driving and lecture slot at the mandatory meeting.
CALENDAR SCHEDULE
A calendar schedule for the Fall dates is linked to this page. As there is a firm attendance policy, please review these dates to determine if the Fall semester will work for the student’s schedule. IF YOU PLAY HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS, THIS PROGRAM WILL NOT WORK FLUIDLY! PLEASE SHARE WITH MR. KELTOS IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN A SPORT.
REQUIREMENTS
There are two components to this program which involves WEEKLY CLASS LECTURE and WEEKLY DRIVING INSTRUCTION; 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 DRIVING 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 driving instruction, the student will be removed from the program with no refund issued nor a certificate awarded. IF YOU PLAY HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS, THIS PROGRAM WILL NOT WORK FLUIDLY! PLEASE SHARE WITH MR. KELTOS IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN A SPORT.
The classroom and driving calendar is linked below for you to review in order to make your requests for scheduling. Requests DO NOT guarantee that the student will be assigned to requested time slot. 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/Saturday 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 either September 4th or 5th at 6:30 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.
Makeup procedures for missed driving and lecture classes will be discussed in further detail at student and parent mandatory assembly.
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
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.
DRIVING CLASS SCHEDULE
Driving instruction class is given on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday [16 weeks]. Students will have the option to choose:
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
Saturdays (choice of one)
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM (May not run based on numbers)
9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM (May not run based on numbers)
Once schedules are confirmed there CANNOT be any changes. Every effort is made to accommodate all student requests; however, not all requests will be able to be accommodated.
**Please note that if a weekday driving time is not available, the student will be placed in a Saturday driving time. **
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: mkeltos@commack.k12.ny.us or call 631-912-2152 or 2017.
Mr. Matthew P. Keltos
Coordinator of Driver Education
2024 Fall Driving Calendar
2024 Fall Registration Google Form Link
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