Dear Parent/Guardian:
The Howard County Health Department and HCPSS School Health Services support your student's academic success by providing vision and hearing screenings at your child's school. These screenings are required by Maryland State Law.
Screenings are provided to the following students:
- Students in Kindergarten, 1st and 8th grades
- All students K-8 new to the state of Maryland that do not have a record of prior vision and hearing screening within the last 12 months
- High School students enrolling in the public school system in the United States for the first time
If your child has glasses, please make sure that he or she wears them on the screening day.
Your child will receive these screenings unless you object for religious reasons. Please send a letter to your child's school health room if you choose to opt out of the Health Department screenings.
If your child does not pass either the vision or hearing screen, you will receive a letter from his or her school notifying you of this result. It is then recommended that you take your child to have his or her vision evaluated by an eye care specialist or that you contact your child's medical provider for a referral to an audiologist for a complete hearing evaluation.
A vision screening does not take the place of a comprehensive eye exam.
Should you have any questions, please contact your school nurse (EMMS Nurse 410-313-6988) or the Vision and Hearing Program Supervisor at 410-313-7210. If you need information about the Maryland Children's Health Insurance Program, please contact the Howard County Health Department at 410-313-5845.
Sincerely,
Maura J. Rossman, MD
Health Officer, Howard County Bureau of Health Services
Kerrie Wagaman, RN, MSN
Director of Health Services, The Howard County Public School System
PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE, if you need to reach out to any EMMS Staff Member(s) please look up their emails HERE.