Mon. Tues. lecture; read full class description for car schedule
General Information about Future Sessions of Driver Education:
Dates for future sessions are usually unavailable until a month before the new class begins. Sessions are viewable online as soon as we have received the exact dates from the program coordinator at BOCES. The summer session of Driver Education usually begins the first Monday after the Independence Day holiday, the fall session begins the third Monday of September, winter begins the first Monday of January, and spring begins the first Monday of April. Registration for each session opens the first or second Tuesday of the month before the class starts. If you want to view the BOCES student information packet from the most recent session for a general idea of what to expect for upcoming sessions, you can find it at https://bhs.bcsd.org/66903_2. It is located at the bottom of the webpage as a PDF file.
NYS DRIVER EDUCATION COURSE INFORMATION
Please read this entire class description to avoid missing essential questions you need to consider before continuing with your registration. Also, review the Student Information Packet at https://bhs.bcsd.org/66903_2 (bcsd.org; BHS page; Students drop-down menu; Driver Education - General Information). This packet contains essential information about NYS's regulations for passing the class and a calendar with exact class dates for each driving group.
Brighton High School offers NYS Driver Education through a partnership with Monroe One Educational Services (BOCES 1).
Driver & Traffic Safety Education (DTSE) in New York State is a course implemented via a partnership between the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The Driver Education course aims to educate current high school students (ages 16 or older) about appropriate driving skills and habits and taking a responsible role in the highway transportation/safety system. Course highlights include 24 hours of classroom instruction and 24 hours of behind-the-wheel training and observation. Students who satisfactorily complete the course can receive the MV-285: Student Certificate of Completion. This certificate allows:
1. A NYS Junior Permit holder to schedule a road test
2. Young drivers a possible reduction in automobile insurance cost (participation is dependent upon insurance provider participation)
3. A 17-year-old to receive a senior license (MV-285 form must be submitted to local DMV to attain this benefit). Detailed information about NYS permits and licensing is available at: https://dmv.ny.gov/driver-license/get-learner-permit.
The Spring 2025 session meets from March 31 – June 6, 2025. Lecture classes are held through ZOOM on Mondays and Tuesdays from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. All parents are invited to attend the first hour of the classroom lecture on Monday, March 31, 2025, to meet the instructor and hear an overview of the program. There is no driving instruction that day.
Driving instruction groups meet toward the front of the BHS parking lot, near Door 4. There are four driving time options. Each group consists of four student drivers in a car with a driving instructor. Group A meets on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30-5:00 p.m. Group B meets on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. Group C meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. Group D meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. During registration, you will select your first, second, and third choice of the available driving times. All registrations take place online. Registration opens at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11th. The website enrolls students on a FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED basis. When many people register simultaneously, the class can fill very quickly. If the class has already reached the maximum number of students when you register, you are strongly encouraged to join the waitlist! It is common for students to withdraw from the class after finding out they didn't get their first choice for driving time. If it is possible to move a student from the waitlist into the class, the parent or student will be contacted to verify that the available driving time is acceptable. You do not have to be a Brighton High School student to register, but BHS students have preference in enrollment and driving time. Non-BHS students are not charged the class fee at registration. They are contacted by Brighton Community Education if there is room for them in the class after BHS students have been assigned their driving time. The fee for this course is $640. The fee includes a 3.5% administrative service charge for credit card transactions.
A receipt is emailed to the address used to log in to your account when you started registering. All email communication is sent to that email address. Parents, please share all emails with your child. Everyone will receive a message from Community Education announcing the driving group to which they have been assigned. This message is sent the day after registration opens. Receiving this email may take an extra day if the director isn't in the office the day after registration opens. After receiving the message confirming your driving group, you must send a copy of your driver's license or learner's permit to Cynthia_Dillard@boces.monroe.edu. You must complete this task within five days of finding out what car you are assigned to. If you do not email a copy of your license or permit, your registration in the class may be forfeited.
If you are on the waitlist and do not get offered a place in the class this session, there are other options you can consider, such as waiting to register in a future BHS session or finding another certified NYS Driver Education program (at another public school district, a private high school, or a driving school that offers group or individual lessons). We wish we had room for every student, but there aren't enough licensed instructors in our area to meet the needs of all public schools that offer a Driver Education program. If you or someone you know would like more information on becoming a NYS Driver Education instructor, email mona_zamiarski@bcsd.org.