Commissioner Nancy A. Naples, of the Department of Motor Vehicles, returned to her alma mater today to announce that the DMV is launching an innovative program to allow high school students to take the driver's license knowledge test in their own schools via the Internet.

Commissioner Naples unveiled the Online Knowledge Test Application (OKTA) program at Nardin Academy High School in Buffalo, where the program is already up and running. Commissioner Naples attended Nardin in elementary and high school.

"Getting a driver's license is a rite of passage, something most young people look forward to with great anticipation," Commissioner Naples said. "For Nardin Academy students, the process of getting a license will be easier and more convenient."

The program is free for students and schools. To participate, a school needs to provide personal computers with Internet access, a printer and at least one staff person to monitor the tests.

DMV is providing Driver's Manuals and other training materials and is working with schools to implement the program. School staff will not have to score the tests. The system automatically scores each test and displays the results for the student on the computer screen.

"The opportunity to take their permit test online has been enthusiastically embraced by the Nardin community," said Nardin High School Principal Rebecca Reeder. "With the busy schedules of students and their families today, the convenience of being able to test here saves them significant time, and they are in familiar and comfortable surroundings for them. We are delighted to be part of this new project with the DMV."

While students must be at least 16 years old to get a learner's permit, they may participate in the OKTA program at age 15. Students take the written knowledge test in a familiar environment with an easy-to-use computer format. The tests are offered in English and Spanish.

Students who pass the online test will get a receipt, a packet of instructions and all required forms. On or after their 16th birthday, they can take the receipt and the completed forms to any DMV office and complete the application for a learner's permit. Students who fail can retake the test online as often as the school allows.

During the late spring and early summer, DMV conducted a pilot program in five high schools in the Long Island and New York City metro area. The schools administered a total of 530 tests, with a passing rate of 77 percent. A survey of DMV offices conducted before the pilot showed an average passing rate of 67 percent. DMV, which received positive comments from school staff and students, spent the rest of the summer working out remaining details concerning the pending statewide program rollout.

DMV has been sending out invitations to high schools statewide urging them to participate in OKTA and plans to complete its outreach to schools within the next two months. While OKTA would complement a school's Driver Education program, a school does not need to have a Driver Education program to participate.

"This is an outstanding program and I am personally very excited about it," Commissioner Naples said. "Recently, DMV updated its Strategic Plan, setting goals for making the agency more efficient and consumer friendly. Among those goals are providing quality customer service and using technology and innovation to improve programs and services. Clearly, OKTA accomplishes both of these goals."