This text of Iowa § 135.39D (Vision screening) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
1.The parent or guardian of a child to be enrolled in a public or accredited nonpublic
elementary school shall ensure that the child is screened for vision impairment at least once
before enrollment in kindergarten and again before enrollment in grade three. The parent
or guardian of the child shall ensure that evidence of the vision screening is provided to the
school district or accredited nonpublic school in which the child is enrolled. Evidence of
the vision screening may be provided either directly from the parent or guardian or from a
vision screening provider referred to in subsection 2, and may be provided in either written
or electronic form.
2.The requirement for vision screening may be satisfied by any of the following:
a.A vision screening or comprehensive eye examination by
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1. The parent or guardian of a child to be enrolled in a public or accredited nonpublic
elementary school shall ensure that the child is screened for vision impairment at least once
before enrollment in kindergarten and again before enrollment in grade three. The parent
or guardian of the child shall ensure that evidence of the vision screening is provided to the
school district or accredited nonpublic school in which the child is enrolled. Evidence of
the vision screening may be provided either directly from the parent or guardian or from a
vision screening provider referred to in subsection 2, and may be provided in either written
or electronic form.
2. The requirement for vision screening may be satisfied by any of the following:
a. A vision screening or comprehensive eye examination by a licensed ophthalmologist
or licensed optometrist.
b. A vision screening conducted at a pediatrician’s or family practice physician’s office,
a free clinic, a child care center, a local public health department, a public or accredited
nonpublic school, or a community-based organization, or by an advanced registered nurse
practitioner or physician assistant.
c. An online vision screening, which may be conducted by a child’s parent or guardian.
d. A photoscreening vision screening, including a vision screening by Iowa kidsight.
3. All vision screening methods pursuant to subsection 2, including emerging vision
screening technologies, shall be age-appropriate and shall be approved by the department in
consultation with leading vision organizations in the state, licensed ophthalmologists, and
licensed optometrists.
4. A person who performs a vision screening required pursuant to this section shall
report the results of the vision screening to the department. The department may collect and
maintain such reports through the statewide immunization registry or a private contractor.
21 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES — PUBLIC HEALTH, §135.40
5. Each public and accredited nonpublic elementary school shall, in collaboration with
the department, do the following:
a. Provide the parents or guardians of students with vision screening referral resources.
b. Arrange for evidence of vision screenings provided pursuant to subsection 1 to be
forwarded to the department.
6. A child shall not be prohibited from attending school based upon the failure of a parent
or guardian to ensure that the child has received the vision screening required by this section.
7. If a vision screening required pursuant to this section identifies potential vision
impairment in a child, the person who performed the vision screening shall, if the person
is not a licensed ophthalmologist or licensed optometrist, refer the child to a licensed
ophthalmologist or licensed optometrist for a comprehensive eye examination.
8. The department shall establish procedures to contact parents or guardians of children
identified as having potential vision impairment based on the results of a vision screening
required pursuant to subsection 1 or a comprehensive eye examination required pursuant to
subsection 7 in order to provide information on obtaining necessary vision correction.
9. The department may share information with licensed health care providers, agencies,
and other persons involved with vision screenings, eye examinations, follow-up services, and
intervention services as necessary to administer this section. The department shall adopt
rules to protect the confidentiality of the individuals involved.
10. The vision screening requirement shall not apply if the vision screening conflicts with
a parent’s or guardian’s genuine and sincere religious belief.
11. A person who acts in good faith in complying with this section shall not be civilly or
criminally liable for reporting the information required to be reported by this section.
12. The department shall adopt rules necessary to administer this section.