1. VISION SCREENER TRAINING

2. Program Overview: 47 year collaboration between DCPS and DCCPTA
48,387 students screened in school year
4,141 students referred and parents notified
1,670 trained volunteers participated with screening
6,830 hours were spent conducting screenings in…
157 schools (including 26 charter schools)

3. SCREENING OUTCOMES: Our screenings identified serious issues such as:
Cataracts
Ocular allergies
Glaucoma
Legally blind – 20/200 or worse in the best eye. Correctable to 20/25 or better
Amblyopia
Nystagmus
Detached Retina

4. Prior to Screening
You will be contacted by your Screening Coordinator with your scheduled training and/or screening date. Please coordinate with school administration and ensure date is on school calendar.
Sign up volunteers to assist with screening
Print three forms from DCPS Wellness website: Vision Screening Class List, Referral letter (approximately 10% of your total enrollment) and Grade Level Referral List (one per grade level). Directions for printing documents is located inside the “Essentials Folder” (Green Folder)
Locate Red Volunteer Folder in Vision Materials and have all volunteers sign in

6. Equipment and Materials
DCPS Vision Services Provides:
Supplies including Red and Black Pens and 20’ Ribbon
Yellow Eye Occluders
“To The Parent Of” Envelopes
Snellen Charts with LEA cards or SLOAN letter cards
Schools Provide (Printed from DCPS Wellness Website):
Vision Screening Class List
Student Referral Form
Grade Level Referral List

7. Setting Up for Vision Screening
Space used for screening must be at least 25 feet
Tables or desks will be necessary for setting up machines
Chairs should be provided for screeners
Snellen charts should be taped down front and back – approximately ½ inch off edge of table to allow mask to move up and down
From the Snellen chart, place a small length of tape on floor at 10 feet for PK – 2nd grade AND 20 feet for 3rd – 6th grade. Measurement is to the heel of the student.
Copies of Vision Screening Class Lists should be placed at each screening station along with red and black pens and occluders.

9. Vision Screening Class List
Vision Screening Class Lists must be completed prior to the screening. The form can be found on the district website.
Be sure to include the Screening Date
If a student is absent or has been opted out by parent, check the “A” or “O” respectively.
Students who do not pass but have new glasses or a permanent difficulty (confirmed by teacher or another adult) check box “R” (Recent Exam)

11. Grading Criteria Passing for PK is 20/40
Passing for K – 3rd grade is 20/30
Passing for 4th – 5th grade is 20/25
Acuity is found on the side of the card – always use 20/…
Start screening on the passing line for each grade level
A student must get one more than half to pass a line
If a student does not get one more than half correct, raise the mask and screen on the next line up. Continue raising the mask until the student passes a line. Do not forget - there are two lines at the top of the card under the small mask. The student’s acuity will be the lowest line the student can read.

12. Special Education Students
Students with the following exceptionalities screen at line higher:
InD – Intellectual Disabilities (Formerly TMH, EMH, PMH)
EBD – Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities
AD – Autistic Disorder
DD – Developmentally Delayed
The passing criteria for PK-3rd grade is 20/40. 4th and 5th grade students should pass at 20/30.
Any student with cross or wall eye, droopy lid, etc., unless already under a doctor’s care, should be referred.
All other students falling under ESE – Hearing Impaired, Physically Impaired, Specific Learning Disabilities, Speech and Language Impaired, Gifted – will screen using the General Education criteria.

13. Screening
Screening with LEA symbols or Apple-House-Umbrella requires two people – screener and pointer
Review symbols with PK and K prior to screening. A copy of the symbols being used should be placed at each screening station
Verify the student’s name on class list.
Using one occluder per student, hold occluder over left eye. 2nd grade and above may hold their own occluder
Screen right eye first – reading from left to right. Screen left eye reading from right to left
Occluders should be discarded after screening.

15. Recording Results
Once acuity has been determined, you must write the score in the box below the respective eye.
Passing scores must be written in BLACK. Failing scores must be written in RED.
If a student cannot see the top line on the chart, write the line # in the box below the respective eye with a “+” indicating the child’s score is higher than the chart’s maximum score
If a student passes the screening, check “P
If a student does not pass the initial screening, then they must immediately be placed in another line and be screened a second time. Write the student’s name and failing acuity on their occluder. The student should take the occluder to the second screening.

16. Re-Screening Screening criteria is identical for re-screening.
If student passes re-screening, check the box “P” under respective eye in rescreening results section.
If student doesn’t pass re-screening, you must write the failing acuity in box under respective eye and check the box “F” in the rescreening results section.
Students marked as absent MUST have two additional opportunities to screen.

17. Screening for Symptoms
Students with observed symptoms such as eyes turn in or turn out, should be referred. Note under Comments Section – Other Symptoms.
Students with eyelid drooping over half the eye, should be referred.
Any unusual appearance, please note observation under Comments Section-Other Symptoms.
A second volunteer should corroborate observation

18. The Paperwork
1 manila envelope for each required grade level – marked Vision Screening Class Lists as well as New to the State. Class lists for any additional grade levels will be placed in a single Additional Grade Levels envelope.
All envelopes are provided by Screening Services
Upon completion of screening, copies must be made of ALL Vision Screening Class Lists.
All Referred students should be written on Referral List
Make a copy of Referral List
Provide a copy of ALL Vision Screening Class Lists and Referral Lists to School Counselor

19. Referral List
Each Referral list should include date, school name, school # and grade level.
Each referred student’s name will be entered on the list along with teacher’s name (elementary only).
Be sure to include whether a student was screened with glasses and the students’ acuity.
A copy must be made of Referral list and provided to School Counselor and Florida Department of Health Nurse.
Referral List should be placed in corresponding grade level Class List Envelope

21. Referral Letter
Prepare a Referral Letter for each student who does not pass the vision screening
Be sure to complete the top section of the letter using the re-screening results for acuity
Write the student’s name on the “To The Parent Of” envelope. Include the teacher’s name in the bottom right corner of the envelope
Seal letter in envelope and give envelopes to teachers to go home with student

23. Wrapping It Up
After all paperwork has been completed, place manila envelopes and all unused materials along with Essentials Folder (green folder), in box to be returned to Vision Services
Place Snellen Charts in box. Please indicate any problems with charts so that they may be repaired before sending them out to another school
Be sure to include Volunteer Sheet in Red Volunteer Folder
Seal box and tape Return Label (found in the Green folder)
Place box in school mail

25. Final Checklist Did all referred students receive re-screening?
Were there three attempts to screen ABSENT students?
Was a Referral Letter written for all referred students?
Was a copy made of ALL Class Lists?
Was a photocopy of Class Lists and Referral List provided to School Counselor?

26. Contact: Any additional questions, please contact
Tracy Scott – (904) or (904)
Edie Brooks – (904) or (904)