CA SB1172

Requires vision appraisals for pupils during kindergarten or upon first enrollment in elementary school, and in grades 2, 5, and 8, performed by school nurses or other authorized persons.

Mandates appraisals include tests for visual acuity (including near vision) and color vision, with color vision tested only once on male pupils beginning in first grade.

Allows parents to waive appraisal by providing a certificate from a physician, physician assistant, or optometrist documenting their child's vision results.

Requires school nurses and classroom teachers to conduct continual observation of pupils' eyes, appearance, behavior, visual performance, and perception to identify vision difficulties.

Directs the State Department of Education to adopt guidelines for implementation including training requirements and methods for testing near vision.