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Minutes for SB62 - Committee on Education
Short Title
Amending the standards for school-administered vision screenings for students and establishing the Kansas children's vision health and school readiness commission.
Minutes Content for Thu, Feb 4, 2021
Chairperson Baumgardner opened the hearing on SB62 - Amending the standards for school-administered vision screenings for students and establishing the Kansas children's vision health and school readiness commission.
Tamera Lawrence, Assistant Revisor, Office of the Revisor of Statutes, gave a brief overview of the bill. (Attachment 1)
Todd Fleischer, Executive Director, Kansas Optometric Association, stood in support of this bill stating vision plays an important role in children's learning. It is estimated that more than 40 percent of the brain is devoted to visual function and 80 percent of learning is a result of visual processing. In 2017, Envision, Inc. spearheaded the organization of a Vision Summit to bring together a group of interested organizations to discuss current screening practices, sharing best practices, challenges and shortcomings of these screenings across Kansas. The Vision Summit meeting participants overwhelmingly identified improving the consistency and validity of vision screening as a priority area for infants/toddlers and school-aged children. It was discovered that Kansas vision screening guidelines needed updating, evidence-based practice regarding vision screening has changed significantly, and shortcomings need to be addressed in current Kansas Vision Screening Laws and Regulations.
The coalition believes these minor changes to the statutes relating to school-administered vision screening will help make sure school-administered screenings are standardized in how and when they are provided, as well as allowing for the more frequent review and revision of the school screening guidelines to reflect updates in research and technology. (Attachment 2)
Mark Tallman, Associate Executive Director, Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB), appeared in support of the bill based on a policy position adopted by KASB Delegate Assembly under the goal of "increase Support for Student Health and Safety". While KASB's postion does not specifically address the issue of vision screening, school districts know students cannot be successful in academic, social and emotional development and preparation for college and careers unless basic health needs are met. KASB supports on-going efforts in these areas if the Committee agrees with this approach. (Attachment 3)
Testimony was received from Graecinda Tedder, Registered Nurse and Early Childhood Special Education School Nurse for Olathe Public Schools and Cindy Galemore, Consultant, Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Ms. Tedder appeared to share with the Committee that vision screening statutes are necessary to:
- Provide evidence-based guidance for conducting vision screening.
- Emphasize the importance of "referrals for eye examinations and necessary follow-up".
- Specify the grade levels being screened lessening the chance of missing a student with a history of transient attendance in the screening process.
- Acknowledge the important role of the school nurse and the importance of training when conducting vision screening and referral.
- Require screening annually for children participating in early childhood IDEA part B programs.
- Align state required frequency of vision screening with that of hearing screening for students new to the school and for those in middle and high school.
- Establish a commission to periodically revise the guidelines, to ensure guideline implementation, ongoing identification of state vision related resources and monitor progress in improving outcomes such as referral completion rate. (Attachment 4)
Written testimony in support of the bill was submitted by Sharon A. Morris, Kansas Director, National Association of School Nurses. (NASN) (Attachment 5)
Neutral written testimony was submitted by Deena Horst and Ben Jones, Legislative Liaisons, Kansas State Board of Education. (Attachment 6)
The Chair closed the Hearing on SB62.
