GA HR145

Urges the Department of Education and Department of Public Health to collaborate on expanding vision and hearing screenings for students in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and grades 1, 3, 5, and 8, as well as transfer students at all grade levels.

Currently, hearing screening is only required at newborn hospital discharge and school entry, while vision screening is only required at school entry.

Approximately one-third of school-age children experience vision problems, and 8% of children have hearing loss between ages 6 and 19.

Requires the developed screening strategy to be presented to the House Committee on Education, Senate Education and Youth Committee, and Georgia Council on Literacy for alignment with state literacy goals.