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The Children's Vision Bill Notification has determined that children entering kindergarten or first grade for the very first time will be required to have a comprehensive eye examination by January 1, 2009. If your child was in kindergarten during the 2007-08 school year, your child will not be required to have a comprehensive eye examination for the 2008-09 school year when entering the first grade.  However, if you child did not attend kindergarten in the 2007-08 year, but is entering the first grade in the 2008-09 year, your child is required to have a comprehensive eye examination.

The bill requires a complete eye examination that must include "subjective refraction to best visual acuity" Most pediatricians or family practice physicians will not have the equipment in their office to complete this part of the examination. Specialized equipment and the professional specialty training of an optometrist and/or ophthalmologist will be necessary in order to complete the examination.

In the event that you do not want your child to participate in the comprehensive eye exam program, your child will be excused by providing a written request to your school principal.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Children's Vision Bill

• Will the screening by a pediatrician or other medical professional meet this requirement?
  SB16 requires a complete eye examination that must include "subjective refraction to test visual acuity". Most pediatricians or family practice physicians will not have the equipment in their office to complete this part of the examination.
• What is the difference between a screening and an examination?
  An examination is much more extensive than an screening. Specialized equipment and the professional specialty training of the optometrist and/or opthamologist enable him or her to make definite diagnosis of problems and prescribe treatment.
• What happens to children of families who do not meet the January 1 deadline? Are there penalties for noncompliance? Will these children be able to go to school?
  The intent of this legislation is to help identify vision problems early in children. It is not the intent to exclude children from school. The legislation does not require exclusion. Local district policy should determine how parents or guardians will be given the guidance and assistance needed for the examination.
• Can a parent opt out of an examination?
  A child's participation in the comprehensive eye exam or the eye screening program shall be excused upon the receipt by the appropriate school administrator of a written request by the parent or legal guardian of the child.
• Does the examination have to be reported on the Children's Eye Examination for Schools form?Because the legislation requires certain procedures and information about the eye exam it is important to use the form provided.  This will also for m more consistent reporting. The examinations will be submitted to the Department of Health and Senior Services without identifying information for statistical analysis.  The form can be accessed on the Missouri Optometry Association's web site http://www.moeyecare.org and the Missouri Association of School Nurses web site. http://www.missourischoolnurse.org
• Will the Children's Vision Commission provide a standard letter for district to give parents or a standard opt out form?
  Each school district will need to develop a policy and procedure for this legislation for their school district. The Children's Vision Commission will provide the eye examination and screening forms, and determine screening procedures and training.  These forms can be found on the following websites:
  http://www.moeyecare.com and http://www.missourischoolnurse.org.
• Are all first grade students required to have an eye exam?
  Due to the late nature of start. the Commission has determined that through January 2009, only children entering kindergarten or first grade for the very first time will be required to have a comprehensive eye examination. If the child was in kindergarten during the 2007-08 school year, that child will not be required to have a comprehensive eye examination for the 2008-09 school year when entering the first grade. However, if the child did not attend kindergarten in the 2007-08 year, but is entering the first grade in the 2008-09 year, that student is required to have a comprehensive eye examination.
• Are students required to have the examination before school starts?
  SB16 requires the examination be completed by January 1 of the current school year.

 

Press Releases

• The Missouri Optometry Association has a brochure about the Children's Vision Bill on their web site.
• The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has a Vision Screening requirements memo.
• Also there is a Frequently Asked Questions document available here.
• To see how Bruce is honoring the veterans in the area, read the Press Release.