Overview

• SB 1560 took effect July 31 and directs the Illinois State Board of Education to develop model screening tools and guidance by September 2026.
• Education officials stress that annual screenings will be non-diagnostic, confidential and include parental opt-out to flag students for further evaluation.
• Parents, policy attorneys and commentators warn that vague rules on data collection, privacy safeguards and opt-out mechanics risk false positives and government overreach.
• Critics such as Abigail Shrier cite screening questions on suicidal thoughts as examples of how assessments could inadvertently harm or mislabel healthy children.
• The ISBE’s upcoming rule-making period will set follow-up referral protocols, workforce capacity requirements and insurance coverage guidelines ahead of the 2027–28 rollout.