We are thrilled to bring Pupils Project to Washington DC!

In partnership with Vision To Learn, DC Public Schools (DCPS), and DC Health, we will provide free vision screenings, eye exams, and new prescription glasses to District of Columbia students as part of Pupils Project, our school-based vision program. Yesterday, 39 pairs of prescription glasses were distributed to students at Stanton Elementary School, signifying the launch of Vision To Learn and the expansion of Pupils Project in the District. 

An estimated 15,000 children attending DC Public Schools go to school every day without the glasses they need to see the board, read a book, or participate in class. Through this collaboration, every student in DCPS will be provided a vision screening, eye exam, and–if needed–a pair of prescription glasses, free of charge. Together, we will provide over 8,000 students in need with critical vision care and prescription glasses over the next two school years. 

Together, we will provide over 8,000 students in need with critical vision care and prescription glasses over the next two school years. 

School-based vision care has never been more important. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for vision care has increased significantly–especially among children. As students return to in-person learning, school-based vision services can help recover lost learning time. 

A three-year longitudinal study conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins University Wilmer Eye Institute in partnership with Vision to Learn and Warby Parker found that a single pair of glasses can have a profound impact on students’ academic achievement. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Ophthalmology (September 2021), is the most robust to date in the United States. It demonstrates that students who were provided glasses gained the equivalent of an additional two to four months of learning. Students in the lowest-performing 25%, as well as those with IEPs and enrolled in Special Education courses, gained the equivalent of four to six months of additional learning. 

We’ve seen the power a single pair of glasses can have to help students learn and succeed in school and are excited to serve the students of DC.