New Law Makes IL 1st State To Require Student Mental Health Screenings

EVANSTON, IL — A new law will require all Illinois schools to offer free mental health screenings to students starting in the 2027-28 school year, government officials announced Thursday.

Gov. JB Pritzker signed the bill, SB1560, into law at Chute Middle School in Evanston, making Illinois the first state in the nation to have this requirement.

“Access to mental healthcare—especially for children—is too often overlooked or ignored," Pritzker said. "Thanks to the bill sponsors and partners joining me today, annual mental health screenings will be available for all Illinois students in grades three through twelve by the 2027 school year. This is a national first worth celebrating."

Under current state law, mental health screenings are not required for every student, making it difficult for districts to identify and address mental health issues that cause barriers to learning. The new law will implement age-appropriate screenings for students in the third through 12th grades.

The process will be overseen by the Illinois State Board of Education, which will develop procedures for individual districts. Each screening will be confidential and parents who don't want their kids to participate will be able to opt out, according to officials.

"Too often, we only recognize a student’s distress when it becomes a crisis. With universal screening, we shift from reaction to prevention," said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders. "The earlier we identify a need, the better support we can provide to that student to help them thrive — in school and in life."

Evanston/Skokie school district officials were early partners with state legislators, offering insight about student mental health screenings. District 65 has used a Social-Emotional Learning screener for the past five years to help identify student needs and offer ongoing support.

"In Evanston/Skokie, we believe that the social and emotional well-being of our students is just as important as their academic success," said Dr. Angel Turner, Superintendent of District 65. "This legislation reaffirms our commitment to providing mental health support, ensuring every child has what they need to thrive, both inside and outside the classroom.”

Part of SB1560 also requires schools to connect parents with BEACON, a portal that provides families with information about available behavioral health services for children and adolescents. The platform launched in January 2025.

The measure passed in both the state Senate and House in May. At the time, Republican lawmakers in Illinois questioned whether the screenings were an example of governmental overreach.

“Universal mental health screenings aren’t going to do anything other than finding reasons for denial of coverage for insurance and running afoul of all sorts of requirements for confidentiality,” said State Rep. Steve Reick.