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Childhood eye screenings

Published (2/17/2012)
By Erin Schmidtke
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School districts are required to hold early childhood development screenings for children who are nearing school age. This helps the schools identify children who could benefit from district or community resources.

Rep. Sondra Erickson (R-Princeton) intends to take the current screening a step further with HF300. It would require districts to share information about vision screenings with parents. The bill explains the benefits that stem from vision testing and states that the testing is not a substitute for a comprehensive eye exam.

The measure was passed 133-0 by the House Feb. 13 and now goes to the Senate where Sen. David Hann (R-Eden Prairie) is the sponsor.

During a Jan. 26 meeting of the House Education Reform Committee, Erickson said, “We have to be in the business of letting parents know what is available out there. … If it helps one child, we must do so.”

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