Elements of Comprehensive Health Programs, 2006
"National PTA recognizes:
Early diagnosis and treatment of children's vision problems is a necessary component to school readiness
and academic learning; and that vision screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation
by an eye doctor. Comprehensive eye and vision examinations by an optometrist or ophthalmologist are important
for all children first entering school and regularly throughout their school-aged years to ensure healthy eyes
and adequate vision skills essential for successful academic achievement;"
Former Resolution Adopted at the
National PTA Convention, June 1999
Learning Related Vision Problems
Education and Evaluation
Whereas, it is estimated that more than 10 million children (ages 0 to 10) suffer from vision problems; and
Whereas, many visual skills are necessary for successful learning in the modern classroom; and skill deficiencies may contribute to poor academic performance; and
Whereas, typical "vision" evaluations/screenings only test for a few of the necessary learning related visual skills (distance acuity, i.e. 20/20 eyesight), leaving most visual skill deficiencies undiagnosed; and
Whereas, learning related vision problems, when accurately diagnosed, can be treated successfully and permanently; and
Whereas, knowledge regarding the relationship between poorly developed visual skills and poor academic performance is not widely held among students, parents, teachers, administrators and public health officials; now therefore be it
Resolved, that National PTA, through its constituent organizations, provide information to educate members, educators, administrators, public health officials and the public at large about learning related visual problems and the need for more comprehensive visual skill tests in school vision screening programs performed by qualified and trained personnel; and be it further
Resolved, that National PTA, through its constituent organizations, urge schools to include in their vision screening programs tests for learning related visual skills necessary for success in the classroom.
