U.S. Department of Education Demands Revisions to Illinois Guidance on Mental Health Screenings Without Parental Consent

The U.S. Department of Education's Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO) has demanded revisions to the Illinois State Board of Education's (ISBE) guidance on administering mental health screenings without parental consent and separating these files from students' education records. The Department emphasized that such practices infringe on parents' rights under FERPA and PPRA, warning of potential enforcement actions and loss of federal funding for violations.