NYC Announces $6M Expansion of Free Glasses Program
January 14, 2019
By: Amelia Harper
Source: Education Dive
Dive Brief:
- New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced during his State of the City address Thursday that all the city’s kindergarten and 1st grade students will be eligible to get free prescription glasses next school year if they need them, Patch.com reports.
Dive Insight:
- Students who can’t see well have a difficult time reading and, as a result, soon fall behind their peers. The earlier issues with eyesight can be discovered and addressed, the better student outcomes are likely to be; however, the families of students in poverty often struggle to find the funds needed to address this issue on their own. With most children attending public schools, these sites are perfect places for these students to get screened for any potential eyesight issues and help families connect with resources to meet any needs their kids may have.