Absences can cause suspension of students’ licenses, permits

The Clark County School District wants teens to know, “Ditch school, ditch your driver’s license.”

As of Jan. 1, youths ages 14 to 18 must provide a certification of school attendance to obtain a learner’s permit or a driver’s license. They also must continue going to school or face having their driving privileges suspended due to poor attendance.

The state law applies to all teens, whether they are home-schooled or attend a public, private or charter school, according to Tammy Malich, assistant superintendent of the education services division for the school district.

“The form is signed by the school and shows that the student has met the minimum attendance requirements supplied by that district’s board,” Malich said. “So, in Clark County, students have to attend at least 90 percent of the school days in the semester, which means they cannot have more than seven unapproved absences in a block schedule or 10 unapproved absences in a nonblock schedule.”

The law was proposed by state Sen. Aaron Ford in March 2013 to encourage students to be more accountable for their education and provide them with more incentive to attend class.

The Senate unanimously passed the bill while the Assembly passed it with 26 voting yes, 15 voting no and one excused vote.

“The intent of the bill is to be preventative,” Malich said. “Anything we can do to help more students stay in school is beneficial. The more a student attends school, the more likely they are to pass their classes and earn their diploma. The goal is not to penalize kids but to encourage them to attend so they don’t get in a bad situation.”

To obtain a learner’s permit, youths must be at least 15½ and show proof of identity, Social Security and two forms of proof of Nevada residency. Teens must also submit the certification of attendance and pass a written test and eye exam, according to Kevin Malone, public information officer for the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles.

“Assuming they pass the tests, their parents will sign a minor affidavit to accept financial responsibility for their driving,” Malone said. “After teens receive their learner’s permit, they must complete 30 hours of classroom instruction and 50 hours of documented behind-the-wheel experience over the course of six months. They must be at least 16 to get their full license.”

If a student is thought to be habitually truant or has three or more unapproved absences, the school district can suspend the teen’s driving privileges for 30 days for the first offense and 60 days for subsequent offenses.

“The school will hold an investigation and conduct a hearing with the parents and student,” Malich said. “If found to be habitually truant, the CCSD police can suspend the student’s license or permit and issue them a truancy citation.”

If the student doesn’t have a license or permit but is of age to obtain one, he will be ineligible to apply for 30 to 60 days. If the student is too young to obtain a permit or license, the suspension starts once he becomes of age.

“The only exemptions are students who are not 18 but have already earned their high school diploma or the equivalence of a high school diploma” Malich said. “The law impact students 14 to 18 because in some rural parts of the state, children can apply for a hardship license at 14.

“Families can appeal to the school if there’s a hardship that requires the student to drive, but the decision still lies with the school district. Cases where a parent forgot to write a note or the student forgot to turn it in will also be appropriately addressed during the hearing if the parent can provide proper documentation.”

Students who obtained a permit or license before Jan. 1 do not have to provide the DMV with the certification of attendance. However, they are still subject to having their licenses suspended for poor attendance.

“If their license is suspended, the school can require the teen to immediately surrender their license to a police officer,” Malone said. “The DMV will also send a certified letter that lists the beginning and end dates (of the suspension). Once their license is suspended, they will have to go through the DMV reinstatement process just like everyone else.”

About 1,500 students were cited in Clark County for truancy during the 2013-14 school year, Malich said.

“Students have always lost credit for missing too many classes, but this law has created a bigger focus on attendance because driving privileges are a big deal to high school students,” Malich said. “Students need to attend school so they can graduate, earn a better income and contribute to society.”

For more information, visit ccsd.net/parents/driverslicense or dmvnv.com/nvdlteens.htm.

Contact Henderson View reporter Caitlyn Belcher at cbelcher@viewnews.com or 702-383-0403.