Student Resources / Teenage/Adult Drivers Responsibility ACT

According to the Teenage Driver Responsibility Act, students must obtain an attendance and discipline certificate from their school in order to obtain a driver’s license. During the school year, Certificates of Attendance are issued through the School Attendance Office. During the summer months, Certificates of Attendance are issued through the Student Placement & Tribunal Office at 130 Trinity Avenue – 2nd Floor, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. There is a $5.00 processing fee for all Certificates of Attendance issued.

A certificate of attendance will not be issued for a student under the age of 18 who drops out of school without graduating and has remained out of school for ten (10) consecutive days, or has more than ten (10) school days of unexcused absences in the current academic year or ten (10) or more school days of unexcused absences in the previous school year.

Notice will be given by Atlanta Public Schools to the Department of Motor Vehicle Safety, as required by O.C.G.A. 40-5-22, and a student’s driver’s license or ability to receive a driver’s license or learner’s permit will be suspended for one (1) year if the student:

   (A)  Has dropped out of school without graduating and has remained out of school

        for ten (10) consecutive school days;



   (B) Has ten (10) or more school days of unexcused absences in the current

        academic year or ten (10) or more school days of unexcused absences in

        the previous academic year; or

   (C) Has been found in violation by a hearing officer, panel, or tribunal of one of

         the following offenses, has received a change in placement for committing

         one of the following offenses, or has waived his or her right to a hearing and

         pleaded guilty to one of the following offenses:

              (i) Threatening, striking, or causing bodily harm to a teacher or other

                   school personnel;



              (ii) Possession or sale of drugs or alcohol on school property or at a

                   school sponsored event;



             (iii) Possession or use of a weapon on school property or at a school

                    sponsored event. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term

                    “weapon” shall be defined in accordance with Code Section

                    16-11-127.1 but shall not include any part of an archeological or

                    cultural exhibit brought to school in cconnection with a school project.



              (iv)  Any sexual offense prohibited under Chapter 6 of Title 16; or

              (v) Causing substantial physical or visible bodily harm to or seriously

                   disfiguring another person, including another student.

                   O.C.G.A. § 40-5-22 (a.1)

A student can reapply for his or her learner’s permit or driver’s license after a period of one (1) year or when the student becomes 18 years old, whichever comes first.