The bill amends Section 31-10-20 of the Rhode Island General Laws to officially authorize driver education schools to deliver the approved driver training curriculum not only in a traditional classroom setting but also in an instructor-led virtual format. This change is based on the temporary authorization that has been in place since April 2020 due to the pandemic, which allowed for virtual instruction. The bill acknowledges that the virtual platform enables instructors to monitor student engagement and that the exam scores from virtual instruction are comparable to those from in-person instruction. It also notes that virtual instruction can be beneficial for students with various challenges and promotes greater accessibility, equity, and inclusion, especially in rural areas or communities without classroom instruction.

The bill specifies that the virtual format course will be permitted for a period of two years following the enactment of the act. Within 60 days after this two-year period, the state board of education is required to provide a report analyzing the test results of the virtual instruction format compared to the in-person classroom instruction format to the speaker of the house and president of the senate. The bill also maintains that individuals over eighteen years of age with a valid driver's license from another jurisdiction are exempt from these requirements. The act will take effect upon passage, thereby formalizing the option for virtual driver education in Rhode Island.

Statutes affected:
7767  SUB A: 31-10-20
7767: 31-10-20