ATLANTA – State Representative Tangie Herring (D-Macon) today announced a partnership with Vision To Learn, a national non-profit, and Bibb County Public Schools to provide free vision screenings, eye exams and glasses to students at Hartley Elementary School. The initiative aims to address the link between vision impairment and academic success to ensure that all children have the opportunity to learn and thrive.
“The ability to see clearly is fundamental to a child’s education,” said Rep. Herring. “As a community, we have a responsibility to remove barriers to learning. I am incredibly proud to have worked with Vision To Learn and our dedicated school district to bring these essential services directly to the students of Hartley Elementary. By providing these children with the glasses they need, we are giving them a clearer path to a brighter future.”
The partnership, facilitated by Rep. Herring, brought a Vision To Learn team to Hartley Elementary on August 26, 2025, to conduct vision screenings for approximately 165 students in the first, third and fifth grades. Rep. Herring noted that this screening effort was a first step in identifying students who may be struggling with uncorrected vision problems, which can lead to difficulties in reading, headaches and trouble focusing in class.
The program is a part of Vision To Learn’s mission to ensure that every child has the glasses they need to succeed in school and in life. The organization operates on a model of bringing mobile clinics directly to schools in low-income communities, providing eye exams and glasses at no cost to the child or their family.
Following the initial screenings, Vision To Learn’s mobile clinics returned to Hartley Elementary on September 16 and 17, 2025. On these days, a licensed optometrist provided full eye exams for the approximately 58 students who had been identified as needing follow-up care. Students who were prescribed glasses were able to choose a pair of frames on-site and received their new glasses within a few weeks.
Rep. Herring emphasizes that this initiative underscores a shared commitment to improving educational outcomes and providing equitable access to healthcare for all children in the community.
Representative Tangie Herring represents the citizens of District 145, which includes portions of Bibb and Monroe counties. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2024 and currently serves on the Code Revision, Economic Development & Tourism and Urban Affairs committees.
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