Each year since its implementation in 2015-16, roughly 20 to 35 percent of third-graders in the state fail the English-language arts portion of the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program assessment on the first try.
The Mississippi Vision Foundation said low vision can contribute to low test scores, and for the seventh year, the foundation is continuing its Third Grade Eye Exam program, which provides eye exams at no-cost to the family of third graders who do not pass the state reading assessment test and do not have insurance.
There are three rounds of ELA tests in the state, and the first is scheduled for April 10 to April 21. Because of this, the free exams are being offered from May 1 to July 31 by select clinics, which can be found at msvisionfoundation.org/participating-eye-doctors.html, MVF announced in a Monday press release.
Of the children who take advantage of the program, 88 percent end up needing some form of visual intervention, said Mississippi Optometrics Association Executive Director Sarah Link.
“Many times if a child is struggling to see, they’re struggling to learn,” Link said. “Statistically, 25 percent of all school-aged children have vision problems, and more than 80 percent of those do not get the help they need. With experts estimating 80 percent of what we learn comes through the visual processing of information, having poor eyesight, issues with focusing, blurry vision and other vision problems can stop a child from processing the information they need to retain in order to learn.”
Jessica Mitchell, clinic administrator for Mitchell Eye Care in Starkville, said historically the clinic has participated in the program because it is important to help young people get help they may not know they need.
“What a lot of people don’t realize is that the primary cause for a child to fall behind in school is actually because they’re not able to see the board properly, and most children are so used to it by the time they are in grade school that they don’t realize it’s a problem,” Mitchell told The Dispatch. “They don’t realize it isn’t normal, so a lot of times they can’t communicate that to their parents. … A lot of these conditions are causing them to decline academically, and it’s better to correct it earlier rather than later because they can fall further behind.”
Ashley Nichols, third grade assistant principal at Henderson Ward Stewart Elementary, said the school nurse typically screens students at the beginning of the year, but often students can pass that visual exam and fly under the radar.
“When you take a test, your ability to read and decipher what’s on a screen for three solid hours is going to be impacted,” Nichols said.
“Adults now are getting into the habit of wearing blue light glasses, but that’s not a common practice for children. If their eyes tire quickly or easily while they’re assessing on the computer for that long, their vision could definitely play a role in low scores. Also if they can’t see to differentiate what letters are very well, then obviously they can’t read the words and passages.”
While the exams are no-cost to the parents of participating children, there are often local donors that cover the costs of services. If there is no local donor, MVF covers the cost for the clinic, Link said.
If children end up needing visual correction with glasses or contacts, Link said MVF works with a few vendors to cover the cost of those corrections.
When parents make the appointment, they should let the clinic know it is for the Third Grade Eye Exam program. On the day of the appointment, parents should bring a letter from the school showing the child did not pass the assessment.
“For students who are covered through private insurance, applicable co-pays may apply due to laws that require the doctor to collect this amount,” the MVF press release said. “All children, regardless of their family’s ability to pay, will be seen by (optometrists) participating in the program.”
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