Does your student need dental or vision exams to meet school requirements?

With parents and students looking forward to the first day of the 2022-23 school year, it’s hard to believe it’s only a few weeks away (eek!). And while we’ve all been looking forward to routine and more predictability, taking care of back-to-school dental and vision exams can make you feel like you’re in better control of your summer schedule. These exams are not required for all classes in Illinois, and the earliest upcoming deadline is not until mid-October. So don’t forget to inhale and exhale…and read on.

Requirements vary depending on your child’s grade. Here’s what you need to know to prepare your child for the school year.

Check out our full Back to School series, presented by Christie Clinic:

Thank you Christie Clinic for featuring our Champaign-Urbana Area 2022 Back to School Series.

Christie Clinic wants you to give your children a great start to the school year. Parents can currently schedule their children’s back-to-school appointments through the MyChristie patient portal or by using online scheduling at christieclinic.com. For more information on school physical exams at the Christie Clinic, click here.

Dental exams:

The State of Illinois requires all kindergarten, second, sixth, and ninth graders to have an oral health examination performed by a licensed dentist.

After your child’s exam, the dentist must complete the dental exam form required by the state of Illinois. The complete documentation must be returned to the school secretary no later than May 15. Translation: For the 2022-23 school year, a valid dental exam would fall between November 15, 2021 and May 15, 2023. The exam must have been completed at any time within an 18-month period prior to that date. ‘deadline. Examination forms are also available at your dentist’s office or can be viewed here.

If you are looking for a dentist in the Champaign-Urbana area, check out the Chambanamoms dental guide here. The Champaign Urbana Public Health Department also offers a dental program for youth 18 and under that includes services such as cleanings, sealants, and fillings. CUPHD is able to complete the dental exam required by the state of Illinois.

Eye exams:

All students entering kindergarten or entering an Illinois school for the first time must pass an eye exam before October 15 of the year of the required exam, or within 30 days of enrollment for new out-of-state students. The review must have been completed at any time within a 12 month period prior to this due date. This means that the eye exam must have taken place between August 2021 and October 2022. An optometrist or licensed physician who performs eye exams (such as an ophthalmologist) must perform the exam. The Illinois state vision exam form can be accessed at the link.

(Note that this eye exam requirement is separate from the annual eye exams provided at all Illinois public, charter, and private schools in kindergarten through second grade and again in eighth grade.)

If you’re looking for an eye doctor in the Champaign-Urbana area, our readers have provided some recommendations for optometrists in the area.