A new Illinois law mandating annual mental health screenings for students in the third through 12th grades is drawing concern from parents and policy experts, who say the measure, and the way it could be implemented, raises more questions than it answers.

“What does that [screening] entail?” asked Cata Truss, a Chicago mother, grandmother, and former educator.

“A child dealing with trauma may show the same signs as one with mental illness, but you don’t want to treat or medicate them the same.”

Though parents will reserve the right to opt their children out of the mental health screenings, the law leaves key details to be determined by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), which has until September 1, 2026, to develop guidance on how screenings will be conducted, how follow-

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