Governor Ducey has signed SB 1456, a bill sponsored by Senator Sylvia Allen that directs schools in Arizona to provide vision screening services to students.
Hearing evaluations have been performed in schools for decades by the Department of Health Services. SB 1456 will now provide a framework to bring vision screenings into schools.
“When a child can’t see properly, they will of course struggle in school,” said Senator Allen, Chair of the Senate Committee on Education. “And young children don’t necessarily know they have vision issues. They may think what they’re seeing is normal vision.”
The bill directs schools to provide vision screenings when a child begins school and up to two additional grade levels. Screenings will be done by a school nurse, volunteer or other school employee who has undergone training.
