In Texas, you can use a report card instead of a VOE only when school is not in session. During summer break, the Department of Public Safety accepts your most recent report card from the current school year as long as it shows your name, attendance record, and grades.1Texas Department of Public Safety. What to Bring When Applying – Learner License Once classes are back in session, DPS expects the official Verification of Enrollment and Attendance form.
When the Report Card Works
The substitution is spelled out on the DPS learner license page: if you apply during the summer and are still enrolled, bring your last report card showing your name, attendance record, and grades.2Department of Public Safety. Texas Learners License as a Teen It is a standard option printed on the DPS document checklist alongside the VOE, not a judgment call at the counter.1Texas Department of Public Safety. What to Bring When Applying – Learner License
Two things to check before you go:
- It has to be the most recent report card from the current school year.1Texas Department of Public Safety. What to Bring When Applying – Learner License
- It has to show all three items: your name, your attendance, and your grades. A grades-only printout won’t cut it.
Why the School Year Is Different
During the regular school year, the report card option is off the table. You need the Verification of Enrollment and Attendance (VOE) form itself. The reasoning is practical: schools are open and can issue one, so DPS expects it.
The VOE is a one-page form that confirms a student under 18 is enrolled and meeting attendance requirements. Texas Transportation Code Section 521.204 requires it for anyone under 18 who has not earned a high school diploma or GED and wants to obtain or renew a driver’s license. It applies to students in public, charter, private, and home schools, as well as those in GED programs or institutions of higher education.3Texas Department of Public Safety. Verification of Enrollment and Attendance (VOE) Form
To get one, contact your school’s attendance office, registrar, or front desk. Some schools turn it around the same day; others need a few business days, especially near the end of a semester. The form asks for the student’s full legal name, date of birth, and school or program name, and a school official signs it with their printed name and title. A stamped or computer-generated signature from a school official is acceptable.2Department of Public Safety. Texas Learners License as a Teen
How Long a Summer VOE Lasts
If your school is willing to issue a VOE before summer break, that document has its own timing rules worth knowing. A VOE issued during the regular school year expires 30 days after the date it was issued. One issued in the last five days of the school year lasts until the first day of the following school year.3Texas Department of Public Safety. Verification of Enrollment and Attendance (VOE) Form For VOEs issued during June, July, or August, DPS treats the form as valid for 90 days from the date of issuance.2Department of Public Safety. Texas Learners License as a Teen So a report card is not the only summer option; a late-spring or summer-issued VOE also travels well into the break.
When You Don’t Need Either Document
Some minors can skip the VOE and the report card entirely. If you have already earned a high school diploma or its equivalent, you bring the diploma or GED certificate instead.2Department of Public Safety. Texas Learners License as a Teen A 16-year-old who graduated early or finished a GED program is in this group.
There is also a middle path for teens preparing for a high school equivalency exam. If you are not enrolled in a traditional school but are actively preparing for the exam, you can provide proof of enrollment in a GED preparation program for the last 45 days instead of a VOE.2Department of Public Safety. Texas Learners License as a Teen
If You Have Neither in Hand
If it is the middle of the school year and your school will not or cannot issue a VOE right away, the report card is not a fallback. DPS reserves that option for periods when school is not in session. Your practical move is to go back to the school: ask for the VOE, and if there’s a delay, ask when it will be ready so you can schedule your DPS appointment around it.
If the school denies the VOE outright, DPS cannot override that decision. The choice to issue or deny belongs to the school.3Texas Department of Public Safety. Verification of Enrollment and Attendance (VOE) Form Ask which eligibility condition you are missing and what it would take to satisfy it. Under FERPA, parents have the right to inspect their child’s attendance and enrollment records, so you can confirm the school’s numbers before accepting a denial.4United States Department of Education. A Parent Guide to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The short version: save the report card option for summer, and during the school year, get the VOE from your school before you head to DPS.