Vision and Hearing Screenings

(A) In accordance with M.G.L. c. 71, § 57, upon entering kindergarten or within 30 days after school entry, the parent or guardian of each child shall present certification that the student within the previous 12 months has passed a vision screening conducted by personnel approved by the Department. For students who fail the screening and for students diagnosed with neurodevelopmental delay, evidence of a comprehensive eye examination meeting the requirements of M.G.L. c. 71, § 57 shall be provided to the school. (B) The school committee or board of health shall cause the vision of each student in the public schools to be screened in the year of school entry, annually through grade 5 (or by age 11 in ungraded classrooms), once in grades 6 through 8 (or ages 12 through 14 in ungraded classrooms) and once in grades 9 through 12 (or ages 15 through 18 in ungraded classrooms). The vision of each student shall be tested by means of the Massachusetts Vision Test or other comparable method approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. 200.400: continued (C) The school committee or board of health shall cause the hearing of each student in the public schools to be screened in the year of school entry and annually through grade 3 (or by age nine in the case of ungraded classrooms), once in grades 6 through 8 (ages 12 through 14 in the case of ungraded classrooms), and once in grades 9 through 12 (ages 15 through 18 in the case of ungraded classrooms). The hearing of each student shall be tested by means-of some form of discrete frequency hearing test such as the Massachusetts Hearing Test or comparable method approved by the Department of Public Health. (D) Screenings of sight and hearing shall be performed by teachers, physicians, optometrists, nurses or others approved by the Department for this purpose, in accordance with guidelines of the Department. (E) For any student who does not pass a vision or hearing screening, a written plan shall be developed by the school nurse, in consultation to the extent possible with a student's parent or legal guardian, for appropriate follow up of the student. With the consent of the parent or legal guardian, the student's primary care provider shall be furnished with a copy of the record of screening tests performed in the school.