CLEVELAND, Ohio (WLIO) — A pilot program aimed at improving children’s vision and reading outcomes was launched this week in Cleveland, with Allen County among those in the pilot program to help young students.
Allen County is one of 15 high-need counties identified by the Ohio Department of Health, which found that about 80% of children in those areas needed additional vision care but did not receive it. The OhioSEE program provides vision services, including comprehensive eye exams and glasses when needed, to kindergarten through third-grade students directly in their schools.
Several students at a Cleveland school received new eyeglasses through the program this week.
“Any child who's been identified as possibly need an eye exam, will get an eye exam that will be at no cost to the family. And then if they need need glasses, they will be able to get glasses, and glasses will be delivered and fitted. This is really goes along with some of the other things that we've been doing in regard to kids being able to see and kids being able to read,” says Gov. Mike DeWine.
DeWine has made reading a priority in Ohio since taking office.
“Reading is so very, very important. We now have the science of reading, sounding words out that whole process in every school in the state of Ohio, some schools have gotten away from it, now they're back,” adds DeWine.
School districts in counties participating in the pilot program must contact the state to schedule eye exams for eligible students.
