Washington Administrative Code
Title 246 - Health, Department of
PARENT/CHILD HEALTH
Chapter 246-760 - Auditory and visual standards - School districts
VISUAL ACUITY STANDARDS
Section 246-760-100 - Qualifications for the visual acuity screening personnel

(1) Persons performing visual screening may include, but are not limited to, school nurses, school principals, other school personnel, or lay persons who have completed training in vision screening; and ophthalmologists, optometrists, or opticians who donate their professional services to schools or school districts. If an ophthalmologist, optometrist, or optician who donates his or her services identifies a visual problem that may impact a student's learning, the vision professional shall notify the school nurse, or the school principal or his or her designee of the results of the screening in writing but may not contact the student's parents or guardians directly per RCW 28A.210.020.

(2) Screening must be performed in a manner consistent with this chapter and RCW 28A.210.020. Any person conducting vision screening must be competent to administer screening procedures as a function of their professional training and background or special training and demonstrated competence under supervision by the school nurse, or the school principal or his or her designee.

(3) A lay person shall demonstrate his or her competence at administering the screening tools including controlling for lighting or distractions that could affect the screening results.

(4) Supervision, training, reporting and referral of vision screening shall be the responsibility of the school nurse, or the school principal or his or her designee. The principal or his or her designee must demonstrate his or her competence in vision screening through supervised training by a competent school or public health nurse or licensed vision care professional, have supervisory ability and experience, and have the ability to work well with school staff and lay persons. Ideally, the person should demonstrate the ability to teach vision screening techniques and operations to others.

(5) Students in grades kindergarten through twelve may not assist with or conduct vision screening of other students in their school district, unless students are supervised and conducting screening within the scope of an advanced vocational health-related curriculum such as nursing.