Navigating The Next Street Student Portal: A Comprehensive Guide

The Next Street provides a comprehensive driver's education program, and their Student Portal is a crucial tool for managing your learning experience. This guide outlines the key aspects of the program and how to effectively use the portal.

Virtual Classroom Etiquette

The Next Street's Virtual Classroom Program aims to replicate the traditional classroom experience as closely as possible within a Zoom environment. To maximize the benefits of the program, students are expected to adhere to the following guidelines:

Participation: Active engagement is mandatory. Students must participate in the full 2-hour Zoom session. Instructors will monitor attendance multiple times throughout the session.
Display Name: Students must use their full legal name, exactly as it appears on their Learner's Permit, on Zoom.
Stable Network: A reliable internet connection is essential. Students must use a stationary device with a stable network to avoid disruptions during the class.
Learning Environment: A respectful and supportive atmosphere is paramount. Students must be seated upright in a well-lit, quiet space, fully prepared to engage and take notes. Distractions, such as participating from a moving vehicle or having an inappropriate background, are not permitted. Research supports that taking notes by hand significantly improves learning and memory retention.
Attendance & Punctuality: Attending the entire class is necessary to receive credit. Attendance checks are conducted at the beginning, mid-session, and end of the class. Students must be actively present at all times.
Focus: Minimize distractions. Avoid checking phones or multitasking during the session.

By enrolling in The Next Street’s driver training program, students acknowledge their permission to participate in the administered program. Students also acknowledge that the course will be conducted by a state licensed instructor from The Next Street.

Driving Lesson Policies

Driving lesson progression is determined by skill-based advancement and individual performance. Instructors tailor lesson plans based on their professional evaluation and the student’s demonstrated learning. Driving lessons can be bundled with classroom products for discounted rates or purchased individually. The Next Street recommends 8 hours of driving lessons for most new drivers; however, students master driving skills at varying rates. Additional lessons can be purchased at any time. Lessons can be purchased in any quantity from 2 hours to 40 hours of time. In order to get the most out of the time together, all lessons are completed in 2-hour blocks. In addition to traditional driving lessons, The Next Street offers a specific Mock License Test Lesson - This is a 2-hour lesson that will focus on preparing students to pass their license test. The instructor will preform a Mock License test in a Next Street testing area. Following the Mock Test, the instructor will work on skills that were concerning on the Mock Test. Students should book this lesson for The Next Street location they will test at.

Cancellation Policy: Driving lessons must be canceled at least 24 hours in advance. Cancellations made within 24 hours will incur a $100.00 fee.
Punctuality: Students are required to arrive on time for all scheduled lessons. Late arrivals or early dismissals requested by the student will incur a nonrefundable fee.
Preparedness: Failure to attend scheduled lessons, including arriving unprepared (e.g., without permit, required footwear, or corrective lenses), will result in a $190.00 fee or lesson forfeiture.
Footwear: For safety, fully enclosed, sneaker-like shoes with a flat, non-slip sole are mandatory for all lessons to ensure consistent contact with the pedals. Shoes must have a flat, non-slip sole for consistent contact with the pedals. Individuals wearing orthopedic support devices, such as casts, splints, or braces, will be prohibited from all driving lessons and road tests.

Medical Cancellation Policy

The Next Street understands that unexpected medical situations may arise, preventing attendance at a scheduled appointment.

Standard Cancellation Notice: A minimum of 24 hours’ notice is required for cancellations to avoid a cancellation fee.
Medical Verification: A note from a healthcare provider verifying that the cancellation was due to a medical issue is required. The Next Street does NOT require or retain any specific health information.

Inclement Weather Policy

In the event of inclement weather, cancellations will be determined by The Next Street. For class and lesson cancellations, students are responsible for rescheduling through their Student Portal.

In-Vehicle Policy

To maintain safety and focus during driving lessons, The Next Street does not allow anyone besides enrolled students or Next Street personnel in the vehicle during driving lessons. There are no exceptions to this policy.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Procedures

This policy outlines the responsibility of parents or guardians to ensure appropriate transportation arrangements for their students after each lesson.

Locations: Lessons begin and end at designated pickup/drop-off locations.
Late Pick-Up: After a 15-minute grace period, if a parent or guardian has not arrived and no other prearranged transportation is available, the instructor will no longer be responsible for supervising the student.

License Test Eligibility and Cancellation

To be eligible for a license test at a Next Street location, students must complete a minimum of two hours of driving lessons at least five days prior to the test date. License test cancellations must be made 5 days in advance. Late cancellations will incur a $100 fee, which includes a $40 fee The Next Street pays to the DMV on your behalf.

Electronic Driver Education Certificate (e-DEC)

The e-DEC will be uploaded to the Student Portal within 5-7 days after completion of the requirements. As of November 1, 2022, the DMV no longer accepts CS1 certificates.

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Account Expiration and Fees

Students have up to 24 months to complete their program. After this period, accounts will expire, and access to services will be discontinued. Unused products will be forfeited. All outstanding fees must be paid within 30 days of the assessment date. The Next Street reserves the right to apply the value of any unused products or services toward any outstanding balance, at its discretion and without prior notice. To avoid forfeiting unused services or products, settling any balances promptly is strongly recommended. Scheduled appointments may be subject to cancellation if there are unpaid fees on the account. Unused products will be forfeited upon account expiration.

Gift Certificates

Gift certificates can be purchased for any denomination and applied to any of the offered services. They are non-refundable, non-transferable, and do not expire.

Marketing Communications

Opting out of marketing communications does not exempt students from adhering to the content of those messages. While The Next Street strives to send timely reminders, it is not liable for any missed appointments due to the absence of such reminders.

Recording Policy

For the safety of customers and employees, as well as for training and quality assurance purposes, all driving lessons, classroom sessions, license tests conducted by The Next Street, and phone calls may be video and/or audio recorded.

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