Eyeglass Program For Chicago School Kids Hits Major Milestone
(CBS) – It was a major milestone for a program designed to help low-income Chicago students learn by helping them see.
Fifty thousand pairs of eyeglasses have now been given out to students who need them.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel pledged $5 million for 100,000 eye exams for CPS students. Part of the money comes from raising the city cigarette tax.
The Mayor and his health commissioner visited Haines Elementary School in Chinatown on Thursday morning.
"This is a great school, and we have great schools throughout city of Chicago, but if the kids can't see the blackboards or computer screens they're not going to fully participate in the academic greatness," Emanuel said.
The vision exams are designed for students who don't have insurance, or children whose insurance does not cover eye glasses.