US Education Department Directs Illinois to Revise Student Mental Health Screening Policy

The U.S. Department of Education's SPPO has demanded that the Illinois State Board of Education revise its guidance on student mental health screenings. The department asserts that administering screenings to young students without parental consent and separating records from education files may violate federal parental rights laws, specifically PPRA and FERPA. ISBE has until November 13, 2026, to implement the required revisions.