By Stace Keane
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Universal mental health screenings for Illinois students are scheduled to take effect in 2027, but federal legislation from an Illinois congresswoman could flip the script.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation last year, requiring public school districts to provide universal mental health screenings, starting next year.
Parents could opt out, but Illinois U.S. Rep. Mary Miller told the House Committee on Education and Workforce the Parents Opt-In Protection Act would flip the default, saying “The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, or PPRA, prohibits educational institutions that receive federal funding from requiring students to submit to a survey, analysis or evaluation without the parent’s consent, should such a survey or evaluation ask for sensitive information about the student.”
The committee advanced HR 4986, sending it to the full House for consideration.
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