Photo: Charles Delano, USACE Louisville District, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Kentucky’s No Pass/No Drive law (KRS 159.051) links driving privileges to school attendance and academic progress for students aged 15 to 17. You cannot get a permit without a School Compliance Verification Form, and a teen who drops out or falls academically deficient can have their permit or license suspended. This page explains who it applies to, where to get the form and how reinstatement works.
Key facts (KYTC, checked November 2026)
- Applies to: students aged 15 to 17 applying for a permit or license. It stops applying at 18.
- In effect since: 1 August 2007.
- Form: TC 94-200 KY High School Compliance Verification Form.
- Covers: all public, private and home schools and Job Corps in Kentucky.
- Reporting trigger: a school can report a student at the 9th unexcused absence or once the student becomes academically deficient.
Where to get the School Compliance Verification Form
| Your situation | Where to get the form |
|---|---|
| Public or private school student | Your school |
| Homeschooled | Your local school district office, after the home school is registered with the county Board of Education |
| Alternative schooling | Your local school district office |
| Kentucky resident at an out-of-state school | The Kentucky school district where you live (601 KAR 13:070) |
| Moving to Kentucky with an out-of-state permit | Your school district of residence |
Homeschool forms do not need an embossed seal. You show the form once, when you apply for your permit, not again for your license.
Already graduated, dropped out or studying for a GED?
At 15 to 17 you can submit one of these instead: proof of high school graduation, proof of having received your GED (transcripts only), or a School Compliance Verification Form.
What gets a student suspended
If a student who already holds a permit or license:
- drops out of school, or
- is declared academically deficient,
the school reports it to the Division of Driver Licensing, which suspends the driving privilege and notifies the student. Schools can report at the 9th unexcused absence. KYTC does not define “academically deficient” on its page; the standard is set in KRS 159.051, so ask your school how it applies the rule.
How a suspension affects your graduated license timeline
Days spent suspended under No Pass/No Drive do not count toward the 180-day permit period. A suspension mid-permit pushes back the date you can take the road test. Full timeline: Kentucky permit and intermediate license rules.
How to get your driving privilege back
- Get back into compliance. Students may reapply at the end of the semester in which they enroll and complete the educational requirements.
- School reports compliance. The school tells the Division of Driver Licensing, which reinstates the privilege.
- Or turn 18. The suspension ends when you turn 18.
- Or court order. A court can order reinstatement. The petition form is AOC 297: Petition for Student Driving Privilege/License Reinstatement.
Common questions
What is the No Pass/No Drive law in Kentucky?
A state law, KRS 159.051, that requires students aged 15 to 17 to be in school and making academic progress to get and keep a permit or license.
Can I get a permit without the school form?
No. Without the form (or proof of graduation or a GED), the Regional Office will not issue the permit.
Does the law apply to homeschoolers?
Yes. It covers public, private and home schools and Job Corps.
How many absences before my license is suspended?
The school can report you at the 9th unexcused absence.
Does it apply after I turn 18?
No. The law no longer applies once you turn 18.
I am moving to Kentucky. Do I need the form?
Yes, if you are under 18. Get it from your school district of residence. See moving to a new state.
Related: Kentucky permit written test guide and the main guide, learning to drive in Kentucky.
Sources
- Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, “No Pass/No Drive Law (HB 32)” (drive.ky.gov)
- Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, “Graduated Driver Licensing Program” (drive.ky.gov)
- Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, “Under 18 Permit Restrictions” (drive.ky.gov)
- Kentucky State Police, “Kentucky Driver Manual” (updated July 2026) (kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov)