Berwyn Township Assessor and Health Board Member David Avila announced that 91 children in School District 100 now have eyeglasses that they would not have, if not for the Eyes for Education Program that began last year.  This announcement comes on the heels of the health board’s decision to expand the program next year to also include School District 98, with votes from BP Health District Board Members David J. Avila, Elizabeth A. Pechous and Margaret M. Paul voting yes for approval of renewal of the program. Studies show a child’s vision is essential to his or her success in school. When a child’s vision suffers, often their schoolwork does, too. The size of print in schoolbooks becomes smaller and the amount of time spent reading and studying increases significantly.

The Eyes for Education Program, which began March 1st, 2017, was created to combat disparities in our communities by specifically targeting second grade children; followed by any student that failed the initial general eye exam given at the schools in Berwyn School District 100. The Eyes for Education Program allows elementary school students who have failed the mandatory school screening to be evaluated by an optometrist/ophthalmologist. The students then pick out their frames and within a few weeks receive a pair of glasses that allows them to excel in the classroom. These glasses are sent to the student’s school. The BPHD voted to renew the Eyes for Education Program and expand the program beyond the Berwyn South School District 100 to serve students in district 98. The program’s goal is to serve 500 youth.