Bill Text: MN HF638 | 2013-2014 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Vision therapy pilot project created, funding provided, and money appropriated.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-13 - Committee report, to pass and re-refer to Education Finance [HF638 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2013-HF638-Introduced.html
1.2relating to education; creating a vision therapy pilot project; appropriating money.
1.3BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.4 Section 1. VISION THERAPY PILOT PROJECT.
1.5 Subdivision 1. Establishment. A grant is established to fund a vision therapy pilot
1.6project. The grant shall be administered by the commissioner of education as competitive
1.7three-year grants. An applicant for a grant must be a school district, charter school,
1.8consortium of school districts, or a tribal school.
1.9 Subd. 2. Pilot project. (a) In the first year of the project, all second and third
1.10graders in a pilot school and all fourth and fifth graders with an individualized education
1.11program shall have a comprehensive eye examination. In the second and third year of
1.12the project, all second graders in a pilot school and all fourth graders who transfer into
1.13a pilot school with an individualized education plan shall have a comprehensive eye
1.14examination. In all years of the pilot project, all second through fifth grade students, who
1.15have not had a comprehensive eye examination through the pilot project and are put on
1.16an individualized education program for the first time shall have a comprehensive eye
1.17examination. The results of the comprehensive eye examination must be shared with the
1.18student's individualized education program team to determine whether vision therapy
1.19alone may be appropriate for the student and adjust the individualized education program
1.20accordingly. The parent or guardian of a student who qualifies for a comprehensive eye
1.21examination under this paragraph may submit a written notification to the school opting
1.22the student out of the examination.
1.23(b) In each year of the project, the school or district shall provide appropriate
1.24vision therapy to students as found necessary by the comprehensive eye examinations
2.1under paragraph (a), and when appropriate, consistent with the interventions used in the
2.2Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial.
2.3 Subd. 3. Application. The applicant must submit a plan to the commissioner in the
2.4form and manner the commissioner determines. A school district or consortium of districts
2.5may limit their application to one or more schools within the district or consortium. The
2.6application must include:
2.7(1) the schools that will implement the pilot project;
2.8(2) who will provide the vision therapy;
2.9(3) how the vision and reading skills of students participating in the program will be
2.10evaluated before and after vision therapy;
2.11(4) how students will be monitored after receiving vision therapy; and
2.12(5) what additional reading interventions will be available to students after
2.13completion of the vision therapy program.
2.14 Subd. 4. Application review; grant awards. (a) Grant money must be paid to
2.15recipient schools or districts in the 2014-2015, 2015-2016, and 2016-2017 school years. A
2.16preference may be given to applicants with a percentage of students with individualized
2.17education programs that exceeds the state average.
2.18(b) Grants are awarded for a three-year time period. The commissioner may award
2.19the grant to one or more applicants. The amount of the grant in each year of the project
2.20may vary, if consistent with the plan details of the application.
2.21(c) The commissioner must determine the amount of each grant based upon the
2.22number of screened children the grantee expects to serve.
2.23 Subd. 5. Evaluation. The commissioner of education must provide for an evaluation
2.24of the pilot project and must report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over
2.25kindergarten through grade 12 education policy and finance by January 15, 2018.
2.26The report must include an assessment of how many students who had individualized
2.27education programs and received a comprehensive eye exam and vision therapy no longer
2.28needed an individualized education program.
2.29 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATIONS.
2.30 Subdivision 1. Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section
2.31are appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal
2.32year designated.
2.33 Subd. 2. Grants for vision therapy pilot project. For grants to implement a vision
2.34screening and therapy pilot project in schools and school districts under section 1:
3.2This appropriation is available until expended.
1.3BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.4 Section 1. VISION THERAPY PILOT PROJECT.
1.5 Subdivision 1. Establishment. A grant is established to fund a vision therapy pilot
1.6project. The grant shall be administered by the commissioner of education as competitive
1.7three-year grants. An applicant for a grant must be a school district, charter school,
1.8consortium of school districts, or a tribal school.
1.9 Subd. 2. Pilot project. (a) In the first year of the project, all second and third
1.10graders in a pilot school and all fourth and fifth graders with an individualized education
1.11program shall have a comprehensive eye examination. In the second and third year of
1.12the project, all second graders in a pilot school and all fourth graders who transfer into
1.13a pilot school with an individualized education plan shall have a comprehensive eye
1.14examination. In all years of the pilot project, all second through fifth grade students, who
1.15have not had a comprehensive eye examination through the pilot project and are put on
1.16an individualized education program for the first time shall have a comprehensive eye
1.17examination. The results of the comprehensive eye examination must be shared with the
1.18student's individualized education program team to determine whether vision therapy
1.19alone may be appropriate for the student and adjust the individualized education program
1.20accordingly. The parent or guardian of a student who qualifies for a comprehensive eye
1.21examination under this paragraph may submit a written notification to the school opting
1.22the student out of the examination.
1.23(b) In each year of the project, the school or district shall provide appropriate
1.24vision therapy to students as found necessary by the comprehensive eye examinations
2.1under paragraph (a), and when appropriate, consistent with the interventions used in the
2.2Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial.
2.3 Subd. 3. Application. The applicant must submit a plan to the commissioner in the
2.4form and manner the commissioner determines. A school district or consortium of districts
2.5may limit their application to one or more schools within the district or consortium. The
2.6application must include:
2.7(1) the schools that will implement the pilot project;
2.8(2) who will provide the vision therapy;
2.9(3) how the vision and reading skills of students participating in the program will be
2.10evaluated before and after vision therapy;
2.11(4) how students will be monitored after receiving vision therapy; and
2.12(5) what additional reading interventions will be available to students after
2.13completion of the vision therapy program.
2.14 Subd. 4. Application review; grant awards. (a) Grant money must be paid to
2.15recipient schools or districts in the 2014-2015, 2015-2016, and 2016-2017 school years. A
2.16preference may be given to applicants with a percentage of students with individualized
2.17education programs that exceeds the state average.
2.18(b) Grants are awarded for a three-year time period. The commissioner may award
2.19the grant to one or more applicants. The amount of the grant in each year of the project
2.20may vary, if consistent with the plan details of the application.
2.21(c) The commissioner must determine the amount of each grant based upon the
2.22number of screened children the grantee expects to serve.
2.23 Subd. 5. Evaluation. The commissioner of education must provide for an evaluation
2.24of the pilot project and must report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over
2.25kindergarten through grade 12 education policy and finance by January 15, 2018.
2.26The report must include an assessment of how many students who had individualized
2.27education programs and received a comprehensive eye exam and vision therapy no longer
2.28needed an individualized education program.
2.29 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATIONS.
2.30 Subdivision 1. Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section
2.31are appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal
2.32year designated.
2.33 Subd. 2. Grants for vision therapy pilot project. For grants to implement a vision
2.34screening and therapy pilot project in schools and school districts under section 1:
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