To: The Honorable Evan P. Shanley
Chairman, House Committee on State Government & Elections
Rhode Island State House
82 Smith Street Providence, RI 02903
From: Alexander Lucini
National Education Association Rhode Island
99 Bald Hill Rd. Cranston, RI 02920
Date: February 10, 2026
Re: House Bill 7498
On behalf of the National Education Association Rhode Island and our 12,000 members, we write in opposition to House Bill 7498.
Our Union represents the driver education faculty at the Community College of Rhode Island organized as the Rhode Island Association of Certified Teachers of Motor Vehicle Safety.
Post pandemic we acknowledge that students, teachers, and parents have struggled with virtual distance learning, and it is often not the best instructional mode for our high school students. The majority of our K-12 classrooms now only utilize virtual learning in an emergency. During virtual learning in the pandemic, our Drivers’ Education teachers experienced significant instructional struggles. They included students with computer and technological issues, poor internet capability, lack of secure testing, no interpersonal interaction, and distractions of every type imaginable. Students often have their camera off, are riding in cars, walking, playing video games or are otherwise not engaged in the instruction. This is not considered a conducive or quality learning environment for this vital safety training.
CCRI driver education faculty successfully educate students of diverse needs across the State of Rhode Island. CCRI campuses provide multiple locations and options afforded to students and parents. The expert faculty and the programs they provide create future generations of safe drivers in our state, and it is imperative that their observations and experiences guide our laws.
For these reasons, we urge you to not support this bill.
