RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif., February 2000 - Vision Service Plan's Sight for Students program has recently joined forces with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) to offer free eye exams and glasses to eligible children in the district. The program is aligned not only with the district's health initiative, but also with its push for literacy. If you can see, you can read!

The partnership between Vision Service Plan and LAUSD will kick-off at an assembly on Feb. 16 from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at the San Antonio Elementary School in Huntington Park. Actor Steve Guttenberg and KABC-TV sports personality Bill Weir have also joined in the Sight for Students cause and will participate in the assembly.

Sight for Students is a national program by VSP that provides free eye exams and glasses to uninsured children across the country. Before now, children in Los Angeles could only access the program through participating community partners such as YMCA of the USA, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Prevent Blindness America and Head Start. Now, children of the LAUSD can access Sight for Students through the district's nursing and Healthy Start Programs.

As part of LAUSD's commitment, school nurses and Healthy Start coordinators will be making appointments for qualified children and following up to track outcomes. Additionally, parent tip sheets will be sent home with every student in the district to help parents identify signs that may indicate a vision problem in their child. Dr. Vision activity books will also be distributed to 3rd and 4th graders to help them recognize signs of vision problems in themselves.

For more information about how a to access VSP's Sight for Students Program, or for help finding a community partner for non-LAUSD students
call 888-290-4964.