25 LC 49 2056
House Resolution 145
By: Representatives Erwin of the 32
nd
, Dubnik of the 29
th
, Cheokas of the 151
st
, Wade of the
9
th
, Barton of the 5
th
, and others
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Department of Education and the Department of Public Health to collaborate to
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prioritize the expansion of vision and hearing screening at various grade levels to identify2
students with undiagnosed and untreated vision or hearing problems that may impede their3
acquisition of literacy skills; and for other purposes.4
WHEREAS, a significant percentage of school age children, approximately one-third,5
experience vision problems, yet for many of them the lack of vision screening and necessary6
follow-up diagnostic evaluations are impairing their ability to acquire literacy skills; and7
WHEREAS, data indicates that 78 percent of infants born in Georgia who failed their8
newborn hearing screening did not receive a follow-up diagnostic test, significantly9
impacting their path to literacy; and10
WHEREAS, there is a well documented direct link between vision and hearing health and11
the acquisition of literacy skills; and12
WHEREAS, Code Section 20-2-771 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated authorizes13
and requires the Department of Education to collaborate with public health authorities to14
address health related mandates for students; and15
H. R. 145
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WHEREAS, effective screening programs can identify vision and hearing impairments early,
16
allowing timely interventions that support academic success and literacy development.17
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY18
that:19
(1) The Department of Education and Department of Public Health are urged to20
collaborate in developing a comprehensive strategy and methods to expand vision and21
hearing screening for students in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and first, third, fifth, and22
eighth grades, as well as for transfer students in all grade levels; and23
(2) Such comprehensive strategy and methods, once developed, shall be presented to the24
chairpersons of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Education and Youth25
Committee and the Georgia Council on Literacy to ensure alignment with state literacy26
goals.27
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized28
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to29
representatives of the Department of Education and the Department of Public Health.30
H. R. 145
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