Bill Text: NJ A3465 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires boards of education to conduct student vision screenings that include evaluation of visual acuity and binocular vision.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-03-07 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A3465 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-A3465-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman CRAIG J. COUGHLIN
District 19 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Requires boards of education to conduct student vision screenings that include evaluation of visual acuity and binocular vision.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning student vision screenings in public schools and supplementing chapter 40 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. A board of education shall conduct vision screenings for students in kindergarten through grade 10. The vision screenings, at a minimum, shall include an evaluation of visual acuity and binocular vision skills, including convergence.
b. A board of education shall conduct the vision screenings required by subsection a. of this section in accordance with standards jointly established by the Commissioner of Education and the Commissioner of Health, including standards for the frequency of the vision screenings. The Commissioner of Education shall collaborate with each school district on the procedures to be implemented to conduct the vision screenings.
c. A board of education shall notify the parent or guardian of any student whose vision screening detects a suspected vision-related problem.
2. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, shall promulgate regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act.
3. This act shall take effect in the first full school year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
State Board of Education regulations at N.J.A.C.6A:16-2.2(l)(2) currently require boards of education to conduct visual acuity screenings biennially for students in kindergarten through grade 10. This bill would codify the requirement to screen students in kindergarten through grade 10 for visual acuity and additionally require that the vision screenings include an evaluation of binocular vision skills, including convergence. The vision screenings will be conducted in accordance with standards jointly established by the Commissioner of Education and the Commissioner of Health, including standards for the frequency of the screenings. The bill requires notification to the parent or guardian of any student whose vision screening detects a suspected vision-related problem.
Binocular vision refers to the ability for both eyes to work together simultaneously. Binocular vision disorders, including convergence insufficiency, can greatly impact a child's ability to learn and may initially be misinterpreted as neurodevelopmental delays or learning disabilities. Screening students for binocular vision in addition to visual acuity will assist in the early identification of children with vision problems, enabling them to obtain appropriate treatment that can improve educational outcomes and quality of life.
