Hamilton, Ohio – During a visit to an elementary school in southwest Ohio, Mike DeWine highlighted a statewide effort aimed at helping young students receive the eye care they need in order to succeed in school. The governor, joined by Lance Himes, traveled to New Miami Elementary School in Hamilton to discuss OhioSEE, a new program designed to bring vision services directly to schools.
The program, known as Ohio Student Eye Exam Program, focuses on making eye care easier for children to access, particularly in communities where families face obstacles such as transportation challenges, limited access to specialists, or financial concerns. Officials say the initiative aims to remove those barriers by delivering eye exams and glasses directly at schools.
“What we are doing with OhioSEE really is changing lives,” said Governor DeWine. “Families in this area face barriers to getting their child the eye care they need. OhioSEE solves these issues by bringing vision services directly to schools for free and allows kids to stay in school, learn their best, and really thrive.”
Vision Care Delivered Directly to Schools
The program is currently operating in more than 180 school districts across Ohio and focuses on 15 counties identified as high-need areas. The Ohio Department of Health found that in these counties, about 80 percent of children who fail vision screenings and are identified as needing additional care never receive follow-up treatment.
By providing eye care directly in school buildings, officials hope to close that gap and ensure that students receive the help they need before vision problems interfere with their ability to learn.
At New Miami Local Schools, leaders say the program has already shown promise. Superintendent Rhonda Parker praised the initiative and emphasized its impact on students.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Ohio Student Eye Exam Program and thankful for the leadership of Governor DeWine,” Parker said. “By helping ensure students receive the vision care they need, this initiative removes a significant non-academic barrier and allows children to better focus, learn, and succeed in the classroom.”
State health leaders say the goal is to reach children at a critical stage in their education. The program targets students in kindergarten through third grade, when vision issues can strongly affect reading development and early academic progress.
“Our goal through OhioSEE has been to reduce barriers to eye care for Ohio kindergarten to 3rd grade students. We’re excited to continue to hear the impacts OhioSEE has had on communities, these students, and their families,” said Bruce Vanderhoff. “Though we’ve seen a substantial increase in the number of eligible school districts enrolling in OhioSEE, we hope more districts will see the value in the program for their students and make the decision to join it.”
Two Models Designed for Schools
School districts participating in the program can choose between two different service models depending on what works best for their campuses.
One option uses a mobile vision van that travels directly to schools on a scheduled basis. The van is fully equipped to conduct eye exams on-site, making it easy for students to receive care without leaving school grounds. After the exams are completed, the van returns later to deliver eyeglasses directly to students who need them.
The second option uses what officials call a “roll-on, roll-off” model, where a team of eye care professionals sets up temporary exam spaces inside school buildings, such as classrooms or libraries. These setups allow students to receive eye exams and glasses right on campus.
Governor DeWine also highlighted the program during his 2026 State of the State address, urging superintendents and school leaders in the 15 participating counties to join the program and expand access to care.
The counties included in the pilot project are Allen, Butler, Clark, Clermont, Cuyahoga, Erie, Franklin, Guernsey, Huron, Jackson, Lorain, Mahoning, Marion, Montgomery, and Ross.
Officials say school districts interested in participating can request more information through the Ohio Department of Health website. Once schools submit a request, they will receive a program packet with enrollment instructions and details about how to implement OhioSEE locally.
State leaders say the program reflects a growing recognition that health and education are closely connected. By making eye care more accessible, they hope students across Ohio will have a clearer path toward learning, reading, and thriving in the classroom.
