RESOLUTION NO. 11
REQUIRED VISION EXAMINATION BEFORE ENTERING KINDERGARTEN
Submitted by: IFT Executive Board

WHEREAS, it is estimated that one in four school-aged children has a vision problem; and

WHEREAS, undiagnosed and untreated vision impairments during the formative years of a child's development can seriously interfere with learning and cause poor performance in school; and

WHEREAS, vision screenings are mandated by the Illinois Department of Public Health for all children in public, private, or parochial preschools, and in kindergarten, second grade, and eighth grade, including transfer
students, teacher referrals, and those receiving special education services; and

WHEREAS, according to the 2002 Illinois Department of Public Health Vision Conservation Annual Report, only 29% of all parents whose child failed a vision screening followed the recommended referrals to an eye care
professional; and

WHEREAS, vision screenings are limited, cannot provide a diagnosis or prescribe treatment, and can only identify possible vision problems, thus leaving the children not identified at risk for undetected and untreated eye or vision problems; and

WHEREAS, eye and vision problems—including amblyopia, a loss of vision which develops after constant suppression of vision of one eye and usually needs to be diagnosed by age six in order to prevent the leading cause of monocular blindness in children and young adults—are best detected and treated early; and

WHEREAS, Illinois Public Act 93-0504 confirms that vision screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor; therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Illinois Federation of Teachers support legislation to require a comprehensive eye and vision examination by an optometrist or ophthalmologist for all children entering kindergarten (or first grade) as a necessary prerequisite to academic learning; and be it finally

RESOLVED, that the IFT submit this resolution to the 2006 American Federation of Teachers Convention.

Adopted by the 2005 IFT Convention