Illinois has become the first state to mandate mental health screenings for students in grades 3 through 12, a move Governor J.B. Pritzker has framed as an effort to reduce stigma and provide early access to care. The law, set to take effect in 2027, allows parents to opt out if they do not want their children evaluated. Supporters argue the program will help struggling students receive the treatment they need, but critics warn it could lead to misdiagnoses, unnecessary treatment, and long-term consequences for children.
On Chicago’s Morning Answer, host Dan Proft raised concerns that schools are not clinical environments equipped to handle accurate diagnoses or follow-up treatment. Studies cited by experts show that universal screenings often produce high false-positive rates, which can result in harmful labeling and unnecessary prescriptions. Proft argued that such measures divert attention from schools’ primary mission of academic instruction while potentially creating new risks for students.
Congresswoman Mary Miller, who represents Illinois’s 15th District, echoed those criticisms. Speaking as both a lawmaker and a mother of seven, Miller said parents are often the last to know when tests or evaluations take place in schools. To address the issue, she has introduced the Parents Opt-In Protection Act, federal legislation that would require written parental consent for any student surveys, evaluations, or screenings. Unlike Illinois’s current opt-out structure, Miller’s bill would make parental approval the default requirement nationwide.
“This is our number one responsibility, to protect our children,” Miller said. She warned that mandated screenings could result in children being permanently labeled, trigger interventions from child protective services, or expose students to questions on sensitive issues like gender, religion, or politics. Miller argued that decisions on mental health evaluations should rest firmly with families, not schools or state officials.
Miller urged parents and grandparents to stay engaged with their children’s education, review classroom materials, and maintain oversight of what happens at school. “Parents should be in the driver’s seat on everything, including these tests,” she said.
The Parents Opt-In Protection Act is now before Congress, as debates over the role of schools in addressing mental health continue to draw national attention.