SPACKENKILL UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
15 Croft Road
Poughkeepsie, New York 12603
(845) 463-7800
Fax: (845) 463-7804
REFUND POLICY:
•
If a student cannot be accommodated because classes are filled, all monies
will be returned. No refunds will be given after the first business day before
each section of the program begins.
1. When do I get my 5 hour pre-licensing certificate (MV-278)?
The MV-278 will be issued after the fourth lecture class only to those students who need
it. These are students who will have had their permit 6 months or longer before the end
of the class or who anticipate scheduling a road test before the end of the class.
You will receive the MV-278 in lecture class from the lecture instructor.
2. How long is my MV-278 pre-licensing certificate valid for?
It is valid for one year from the date of issue.
3. When do I get my driver education completion certificate (MV-285)?
You will receive the MV-285 in the mail approximately 4-5 weeks after the end of your
driver education course. It will be mailed directly to you from the driver education office.
Do not call the driving school or your instructor to inquire about when it will be sent.
4. How long is my MV-285 driver education certificate valid for?
It is valid for two years from the date of issue.
5. How do I get my insurance discount?
The MV-285 is a two-part form. The top part is for the DMV and the bottom part should
be sent to your insurance company.
6. What if I lose my MV-285 certificate?
We can issue a replacement copy, however, it may take anywhere from 2-8 weeks to
issue the replacement and may incur a replacement charge.
7. What do I need to make sure I have before I schedule my road test?

A valid NYS learner permit – it must be valid on the date you make the
appointment & on the date you take your road test.

A valid MV-278 pre-licensing certificate or valid MV-285 driver’s
education certificate – the MV-278 or the MV-285 must be valid at the time
you schedule your road test, but can be expired on the date of your road test.

If you are under 18, you must have had your permit for 6 months from the date
your permit is issued to the date of your road test. However, if you are age 17,
have completed driver education & have a valid MV-285 driver education
certificate, this is not required.

A completed MV-262 form – if you are under 18 you must have a minimum
of 50 hours of supervised practice driving before your road test with at least 15
hours at night (after sunset.) You must bring the MV-262 (Certification of
Supervised Driving) completed by your parent or guardian to certify that you
have the required hours of supervised practice driving.
You do not need to have the driving school or instructor certify & sign this form.
When you get your MV-285 at the conclusion of the course, this signifies that
you received the 6 hours behind the wheel in a state-approved program.

Link to MV-262: http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/forms/mv262.pdf
8. How do I schedule my road test?
http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/rtreq.htm
9. Is driver education held on days that schools are closed?
There is no driver education held on days that schools are scheduled to be closed.
If there is a legal school closing then Driver’s Ed. will be cancelled for that day and
rescheduled at the schools earliest available Friday. Students will be notified by a
morning announcement if appropriate, and/or by their instructor. *LEGAL SCHEDULED
MAKEUPS MUST BE ATTENDED!
10. What about Superintendent Conference Days?
On Superintendent Conference Days, there is no lecture class held, but in-car driving
sessions will still be held.
11. What about cancellations due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances?
If schools are closed due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, there are no
driver education classes or driving sessions held that day. If after school activities are
canceled, driver education classes & driving sessions are canceled as well.
For in-car sessions that are scheduled on Saturdays, in case of cancellation due to
weather or other unforeseen circumstances, you will be contacted directly by your driving
instructor.
12. What do I do if an emergency arises and I have to miss a lecture class or an
in-car driving session?

If you need to miss an in-car driving session due to an emergency, contact your
driving instructor at the phone number given to you at the beginning of class. Do
not contact the driver’s education office.

If you need to miss a lecture class please contact Mrs. Firehock- 914-489-6980.
MISSING A LECTURE CLASS MAY RESULT IN THE DELAY OF COURSE
COMPLETION UNTIL THE FOLLOWING SEMESTER. WE STRONGLY URGE YOU
TO REFRAIN FROM DOING SO.

YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE UP ANY MISSED ABSENCES.
13. How do I change my junior license to a senior license with Driver Education?
If you have a Class DJ junior license, and you complete a driver education course, you
can change your Class DJ junior license to a Class D senior license when you are 17
years old.
To change the class of your driver’s license you must have a MV-285 driver education
certificate.
Before Taking Road Test
If you have not taken your road test yet, give your MV-285 driver education certificate to
the DMV examiner after your road test. The DMV will update your driver record and will
automatically issue a Class D photo driver license on your 17th birthday. You will receive
the new driver license in the mail. There is no fee when you change the class of your
driver license by this method. Your driver license record will show that you are a Class D
driver. You do not need to have your Class D document to drive as a senior license
driver. You can drive on your 17th birthday.
After Taking Road Test
If you did not have your MV-285 driver education certificate when taking your road test,
you must go to a DMV office to change your license class. Bring your class DJ driver
license and the MV-285 to a DMV office on your 17th birthday or any following day.
Complete a form MV-44, and pay the fee of $12.50. You will receive a temporary Class D
driver license, without photo, at the office. The DMV will then mail your Class D photo
driver license in approximately two weeks.

Link to MV-44: http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/forms/mv44.pdf