Unless there were a different set of rules in between, the prior rules were that you could go take the written learner's permit test ahead of your 16th birtday (I think 30 or 60 days, but I don't remember exactly). The state would then mail you your permit on/about your birthday, but the permit was still not valid until your 16th birthday. I distinctly remember mine arriving on my birthday mid-week and I was able to go take my DL test on Saturday morning (there was no requirement to hold the permit for 6 months before taking the DL test back then).