Crossroads Christian School
North Carolina Driving Eligibility Certificate (D.E.C.)
School Policy for Issuing Certificates

Homeschooled students must be registered at
CCS for 6 months before we can issue a DEC to them.

In accordance with the rules and requirements outlined in Article 39, Chapter 115C of the NC General Statutes, Crossroads Christian School follows these guidelines in providing DECs to student drivers:

STUDENT PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING A D.E.C.

           A non-public school student under age 18 currently and properly enrolled in that school and wishing to obtain a NC driver's license or a learner’s permit must first obtain a D.E.C. issued from and signed by either the chief administrator (or his/her designee) of the conventional non-public school in which the student is enrolled, or from the chief administrator of the home school in which the student is enrolled.  The student must obtain the signed D.E.C. form no more than 30 days before the date the student applies for a NC driver's license or learner’s permit.  See N.C.G.S. 20 -11(n) and 115C - 566.

STUDENT REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING A D.E.C.

           In order for a non-public school student under age 18 to be eligible to receive a D.E.C., the following requirements must be met:

1. The student must be enrolled in a non-public school which is currently meeting all the requirements of Part 1, 2 or 3 of Article 39, Chapter 115C of the NC General Statutes and must be making academic progress toward obtaining a high school diploma or its equivalent -- unless, the student cannot make progress toward obtaining it.  That academic progress shall be determined by the chief administrator (or his/her designee) of the non-public school in which the student is enrolled;
2. The student must have NOT been expelled, suspended for more than 10 days, or assigned to an alternative education setting for more than 10 days for committing one of the following offenses after the student's 14th birthday or during or after 8th grade:
   1. Possession or sale of alcohol or a controlled substance on school property or at a school-sponsored or school-related activity;
   2. Bringing, possession or use of a weapon or firearm on school property; or,
   3. Assault on a teacher or other school personnel on school property or at a school-sponsored or school-related activity.

North Carolina learner's permit/driver's license revocation for these three conduct offenses are mandated for one year and, if the student committed and was disciplined for the offense while the student was age 17, the revocation period may extend past age 18.

A student who has committed one of these offenses may be eligible for a
D.E.C. only when the chief school administrator (or his/her designee) has determined that the student has exhausted all administrative appeals, is making academic progress toward high school graduation and meets one of the three following conditions:

1. The conduct occurred before the student was age 15 and the student is now at least age 16;
2. The conduct occurred after the student reached age 15 and it is at least one
   year after the student has exhausted all administrative appeals; or,
3. The student qualifies for at least a Level 2 North Carolina driver's license, needs the D.E.C. in order to drive to and from school, a drug or alcohol treatment counseling program, or a mental health treatment program, and no other transportation is available.  In the case of treatment program attendance, the revocation would be suspended only long enough for completion of the treatment program.  Once the treatment program has been completed, the chief administrator of the non-public school must then revoke until the full year revocation period has been satisfied.

A student whose permit/license was revoked or denied due to
committing one of these offenses may be eligible for a D.E.C. only if, after 6
months from the date of ineligibility, the chief school administrator (or his/her
designee) determines that the student is making academic progress toward
high school graduation and that one of the following conditions has been met:

1. The student has returned to school or been placed in an alternative
   educational setting, and has displayed exemplary behavior, as defined
   only as when a student has no further offenses as listed earlier which
   would result in the earlier described types of school disciplinary action;
2. The disciplinary action was for the possession or sale of alcohol or a
   controlled substance and the student has successfully completed a drug
   or alcohol treatment counseling program as determined by the chief
   administrator (or his/her designee) of the school in which the student
   was enrolled at the time the offense occurred.

           The chief administrator of the non-public school may grant a substantial hardship classification for the student and provide a D.E.C. despite the student's lack of academic progress or a misconduct offense such as listed earlier.  Some examples of a substantial hardship could include:

1. If the parent/guardian is unable to drive due to illness or other impairment and the student is the only person of driving age in the household;
2. If the student requires transportation to and from a job that is necessary to the welfare of the family and is unable by any other means to do so.
   

For complete information about Article 39, Chapter 115C of the NC General Statutes, please go to www.ncdnpe.org/hhh105.htm.

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