The Massachusetts Department of Public Health in accordance with the Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 71, Section 57 requires vision screening of children entering Kindergarten who do not present a passing vision screening certificate completed within the past 12 months. Vision screening will be completed yearly through grade 5, once during grades 6-8, and once during grades 9-12.
PK students who do not have vision screening certificate will be tested on the following: linear distance visual acuity and linear near visual acuity.
Kindergarten students who do not have vision screening certificate will be tested on the following: linear distance visual acuity, ocular alignment, and stereopsis.
First grade students who do not have a vision screening certificate will be tested on the following: linear distance visual acuity, linear near visual acuity, ocular alignment, and stereopsis.
In addition, regulations developed under the Comprehensive Special Education Law, C. 766, PARAGRAPHS 306. 1(c) and 306.2, specify that children with special needs from the age of 3 must be identified. Assessments of visual function, appropriate to the age and development of such children, must be incorporated as part of the total evaluation.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health in accordance with the Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 71, Section 57 requires vision screening of children entering Kindergarten who do not present a passing hearing screening certificate completed within the past 12 months. Hearing screening will be completed yearly through grade 3, once during grades 6-8, and once during grades 9-12.
Kindergarten students who do not have hearing screening certificate will be tested.
First grade students who do not have a hearing screening certificate will be tested.
In addition, Education Law, Chap. 766 p. 306 1(D) specify that children with special needs or children whose parent or guardian suspects may have a hearing problem must be given a test for auditory functioning appropriate to the age and development of the child, beginning with the third birthday.
The Vision and Hearing of each student is screened through the Health Office. The results are recorded as "passed or failed" in the health record. Referrals will be made as needed.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health in accordance with the “Comprehensive Growth Screening Guidelines for Schools” originally developed and published in 2007 by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the state regulations on Physical Examination of School Children, 105 CMR 200.000, revised in 2009 & amended in 2013 states that all schools must now conduct BMI screenings for grades 1, 4,7 & 10. Parents or legal guardians can request in writing that their child not participate in the screening.
The results of your child's BMI are strictly confidential and are reported to the Department of Public Health as a combined number. No individual student BMI results will be shared with anyone other than the parent/guardian.
A student may be exempt from the hearing, vision, BMI, and postural screenings upon written request from the parent/guardian. Please complete exemption requests prior to 10/17/25. Complete exemption request form here. It is highly encouraged that your student is scheduled for a yearly physical exam with their primary care provider to complete these screenings.