No Pass/No Drive Law         Effective  June 25, 2007               Implementation begins 8/1/07
(KRS 159.051)           

Involves all public (and private) schools in Kentucky       Only Applies to 16 and 17-year-old students

Beginning August 1, 2007, any 16 or 17 year-old applying for a driver’s license permit (Instruction Permit) will be required to have this form issued from his/her school.  This form verifies that the student is compliant (in good standing) with the requirements of the No Pass/No Drive Law.  Schools will use grades and unexcused absences (or students dropping out) beginning with the fall semester of 2007.

The No Pass/No Drive Law defines

Academic Deficiency as: a “student who does not have passing grades in at least four (4) courses, or the equivalent of four courses, in the preceding semester.” [3 out of 4 per block schedule]

“Drop No Pass/No Drive Definition: a student with NINE or more unexcused absences in a SEMESTER (absences due to suspension are considered unexcused), OR Dropout Out” of School.

The school will report this information to the Division of Driver Licensing (via web portal).  This report can be made at the end of the semester OR earlier (school choice).

How do Students become Compliant (after being Noncompliant)?

The No Pass/No Drive Law also states,

“A student may also REAPPLY for his driver’s license at the end of a summer school semester which results in the student having passed at least four (4) courses… during the successive spring and summer semesters.”

What Happens After Schools Report Students as Noncompliant (via Web Portal

Transportation Cabinet notifies student (“as soon as possible”) that driver’s license has been revoked or denied

Informs student of the option of “right of hearing” before District Court

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: When will No Pass/No Drive be implemented in Schools?
A:  Beginning August 1, 2007 Schools will use information (attendance and grades) from the fall of 2007 to determine if students are in compliance

Q:Does No Pass/No Drive apply to driving a motorcycle?
A:  Yes

Q:  Can a student be reported to the Division of Driver Licensing as soon as the student reaches 9 unexcused absences
A:  Yes, the school can report as soon as the 9th absence occurs

Q: What does a student need from his/her school in order to get a driver’s permit or license?
A:   The school will issue a School Compliance Verification Form for Driver’s License (students in good standing with No Pass/No Drive)

Q: Does No Pass/No Drive only apply to 16 and 17-year-old students?
A:  Yes, once a student reaches his/her 18th birthday, the law does not apply

Q: Does No Pass/No Drive apply to driving a motorcycle            A:  Yes

Q:  Can a student be reported to the Division of Driver Licensing as soon as the student reaches 9 unexcused absences
A:  Yes, the school can report as soon as the 9th absence occurs

Q:  What happens to a Senior student – 17 years old-  who graduates but has failed four courses in the 12th grade?
A:  The student must be reported to the Division of Driver Licensing as noncompliant.

Q: How long are students considered noncompliant?
A:  Students are considered noncompliant until they become compliant or reach age 18.  For school purposes, students are usually noncompliant a full semester until they have time (the following semester) to improve their grades and/or attendance.

Q:  When students transfer to new schools in the middle of the school year, do their absences from previous schools follow them?
A:  Yes.  KRS 159.150 interprets absences as “cumulative” for a school year

Q: Will students have to pay a fee to have their driver’s license reinstated after revocation due to No Pass/No Drive?
A:  A fee will not be required, but if the license has been suspended for one year (or more), the student will have to take the written and eye exams again.

Q:  The No Pass/No Drive law says that absences due to suspension are supposed to be used in the determination of “dropout” (9 unexcused absences). Is this correct? 
A:  This is correct.  The No Pass/No Drive law specifies that days of suspension are considered “unexcused absences.” 

Q:  When a student (out-of-state) transfers into a Kentucky school, do the absences from other states apply?
A:  No, unexcused absences from other states would not apply

Q:  What happens if a student drops out out of school in the fall semester and loses his driver’s license.  Then, he re-enrolls in spring semester and two days later requests a school compliance verification form.
A: The student should be in compliance for a full semester before the school notifies the Division of Driver Licensing to reinstate the license.  Therefore, the student would have his driver’s license re-instated during the following fall semester (one year after dropping out of school).