College of Optometrists in Vision Development Sheds Light on Missing Link to Common Core State Standards
Aurora, OH – The Common Core State Standards have been developed with the goal of better education for our students. The College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD), is excited about the potential of these standards to improve elementary and high school education in the United States, but explains there is a significant missing link to the system. As COVD launches their annual National Children’s Vision and Learning Month campaign, they shine light on the missing link.
According to the Common Core State Standards Initiative website, “The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them.” The question is will everyone know exactly what to do to help the struggling students?
Typically, children with vision problems that interfere with reading and learning slip through the system undetected. Most children will have their vision tested by the school nurse and if they can see the letters on the eye chart a vision problem is considered to be ruled out. “It is important to understand that vision screenings are just that, screenings,” explains Dr. David Damari, President of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. “They are not designed to test for eye movement and eye coordination disorders that, according to many studies, including those by the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health, can significantly impact learning; they only test for visual acuity (how clearly one can see letters on the eye chart from a distance of 20 feet).”
When children struggle with reading fluency, comprehension and attention problems, they often have eye coordination and eye movement disorders contributing to their difficulties. Optometric and medical research continues to show the connection between vision problems and academic performance.
People from all walks of life have seen children go from struggling to succeeding once these vision problems have been treated. Parents, educators, physicians and pediatricians have joined COVD over the years to help spread the word that something can be done to help struggling students. For 2013, we have parents coming forward from all over the U.S. and the globe to share their stories.
“Our goal is to give everyone access to the research and general information on the impact that vision problems can have on education. To do this we have redesigned our website to make it even easier to find this vital information,” Damari shares. “We invite you to visit our website, and also to subscribe to the COVD blog. Last summer, our blog was named one of the Top 10 Influencers Making a Difference in the World of Eye Health by ShareCare (created by Jeff Arnold and Dr. Mehmet Oz, in partnership with Harpo Studios, Remark Media (NASDAQ: MARK), Sony Pictures Television, and Discovery Communications).”
About COVD
The College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) is an international, non-profit optometric membership organization that provides education, evaluation, and board certification programs in behavioral and developmental vision care, vision therapy, and visual rehabilitation. The organization is comprised of doctors of optometry, vision therapists and other vision specialists. For more information on learning-related vision problems, vision therapy and COVD, please visit www.covd.org or call 888.268.3770.
A series of public service announcements (PSAs) are available at covd.org to help raise awareness that vision problems can not only interfere with learning, but sports performance, and other activities of daily living. These PSAs also address vision problems that impact individuals who have autism spectrum disorders or those who have suffered a head injury.
CONTACT: Pamela R. Happ, CAE
COVD Executive Director
888.268.3770 tel
Email: phapp@covd.org
Website: www.covd.org
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