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18h ago

Illinois Enacts First-in-Nation Law Requiring Free Annual Mental Health Screenings in Public Schools

Implementation guidance is due by September 2026 to prepare for optional, state-funded screenings in grades 3 through 12 starting in the 2027–28 school year.

Governor JB Pritzker, at Chute Middle School in Evanston on July 31, 2025, signs into law a mandate that will require Illinois public schools to offer students between 3rd and 12th grades an optional mental health screening. (Richard Requena/Pioneer Press)
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Overview

  • Governor JB Pritzker signed SB 1560 into law on July 31 at Evanston’s Chute Middle School, mandating annual mental health assessments for students in grades 3–12.
  • The measure makes Illinois the first state to require universal, school-based mental health screenings free of charge to families.
  • The Illinois State Board of Education must develop and distribute model screening tools and protocols by September 1, 2026.
  • Parents will retain the right to opt their children out of the screenings in the same way they can for vision and hearing tests.
  • The program builds on prior youth behavioral health efforts—including the BEACON portal and local pilot programs—to shift from crisis intervention toward early detection and support.