Key Takeaways
- Prevent Blindness says proposed changes to Head Start could weaken standards governing how children receive vision screenings and increase variation among programs
- Current Head Start requirements call for evidence-based vision screenings within 45 days of a child’s first day in the program, along with referrals when follow-up care is needed
- Prevent Blindness is urging Congress to pass the bipartisan EDVI Act, which would provide federal support for state and community pediatric vision-care systems
Prevent Blindness has raised concerns about proposed changes to the Head Start Program that the organization says could weaken standards for vision screening and increase inconsistencies in children’s access to early detection and follow-up eye care.
In a statement, the nonprofit said it is reviewing the proposed rule from the Trump administration that would make changes to Head Start, a federal program providing education, health, and other services to children from birth through age 5 from families with lower incomes.
Under current Head Start requirements, programs must conduct evidence-based vision screenings within 45 days of a child’s first day in the program and refer children requiring follow-up vision care to appropriate providers for additional treatment and family services. According to Prevent Blindness, the underlying federal statute would continue to require Head Start programs to conduct vision screenings under the proposed rule. However, the organization said the proposal would relax standards governing how screenings are performed, potentially allowing programs to use approaches that do not follow evidence-based guidelines.
The proposed rule also directs Early Head Start programs to coordinate with state and local entities to provide health services, a change Prevent Blindness characterized as part of a broader shift toward a more state-based Head Start model.
The organization emphasized the importance of identifying vision problems early in childhood, when untreated disorders can interfere with learning and development. Prevent Blindness cited research indicating that approximately 21.4% of Head Start preschoolers have a vision disorder. It also noted that, according to the Office of Head Start, vision-related medical diagnoses among participating children are second in frequency only to asthma.
“In addition to other fundamental changes to the Head Start program, loosening requirements around how and when vision screenings are conducted risks creating even greater inconsistency and could result in children receiving screenings that do not follow evidence-informed guidelines,” said Donna Fishman, executive director of the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness.
She added that children participating in Head Start should have access to timely vision screening and appropriate follow-up care so that problems can be identified and treated before contributing to permanent vision loss or difficulties with early learning and school readiness.
Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness, said the organization and its National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health would continue advocating for access to effective vision screening and follow-up care regardless of a child’s location or family economic circumstances.
Prevent Blindness also plans to submit comments on the proposed rule before the October 6 deadline and is calling on Congress to pass the bipartisan Early Detection of Vision Impairments for Children Act, or EDVI Act. The legislation would provide federal grants intended to help states and communities develop and strengthen systems of care for children’s vision. It would also support a national technical assistance center focused on promoting evidence-based practices.
The full Prevent Blindness statement can be found here.
