In accordance with Act 1438 of 2005, all public schools and public charter schools shall report eye and vision screening summaries to the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE). ADE shall report the findings to the Governor, Legislative Council, and the House and Senate Interim Committees on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor two (2) times per year. As a result, schools are required to enter student vision-screening results into the Arkansas Public School Computer Network (APSCN). The results entered will be the results of students in Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and grades one, two, four, six and eight, as well as, all transfer students not previously screened in the required school year.
APSCN Training for school nurses will be held in the educational service cooperatives this year. A summary report will be queried in November and February so that mandated reports may be submitted by January 15 and June 15 in accordance with Ark. Code Ann. § 6-20-2202(e)(2). The reports and deadlines can be found in the REQUIRED WRITTEN REPORT CONTACTS AND SUBMISSION SCHEDULE. All schools are strongly encouraged to have the screenings and referrals made prior to this time. For assistance or questions, please contact Paula Smith, State School Nurse Consultant at 501-683-3600 or via e-mail at paula.smith@arkansas.gov.