Education Department demands Illinois revise mental health screenings

Privacy concerns regarding federal law

The Education Department contends the state's existing opt-out clause is inadequate under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment because it lacks a requirement for written parental consent.

Federal regulators also argue that allowing schools to choose whether to include evaluation results in official student records could enable them to conceal information from parents. The department claims this practice may violate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

Illinois mental health screening mandate

These evaluations investigate sensitive personal details concerning a student's anxiety, depression, trauma, and suicidal thoughts.

Federal officials demand parental transparency

Department of Education, stated that students should not disclose intimate mental health information without parental knowledge and consent.

The Illinois State Board of Education did not provide an immediate response to a request for comment on Friday.

Rural mental health crisis and provider shortages

These programs allocated 33 grants totaling more than $120 million specifically to rural states and districts.

Knutson said he expects the behavioral health care crisis to become more pronounced among rural youth over the next 10 years as pressures continue.

Nicole Barnes, the APA’s executive lead psychologist for education, said stigma regarding seeking mental health care compounds the issue of limited access.

Barriers for rural students and families

In small rural schools, bullying can leave students feeling isolated because they cannot easily choose different friends, Cashel said. She added that it is difficult to obtain school support if the bully holds social power.

LGBTQIA students in rural areas face an added sense of othering, Knutson said. Knutson stated that supporting queer youth in these communities can lead to accusations of grooming or being labeled as liberal.

Ashley Norwood-Strickland said parents in small, rural communities often discourage children from discussing problems due to concerns about confidentiality and local gossip.

School-based mental health models

Tess Kilwein, a clinical and sport psychologist and former chair of the APA’s Committee on Rural Health, said integrating behavioral health into schools helps overcome rural barriers such as provider shortages, distance, and confidentiality concerns. These school-based models make students more likely to utilize services.

Psychologist Cottrill said these centers provide primary and psychological care to students and staff. A school-based model in a rural Illinois community provides primary care services to both teachers and parents.

Clinical social worker Melissa Buchholz works in southwestern North Dakota and conducts psychotherapy sessions at schools during the day. This schedule helps families avoid traveling more than an hour for appointments. Buchholz receives referrals for her school-based services from parents, teachers, and school staff across three districts.

Universities are creating programs to train psychologists for rural youth. Students in these programs lead therapy groups on topics such as anger management, problem-solving, and life skills in local schools. Oklahoma State University is developing undergraduate coursework to help students earn behavioral health aide certification for delivering culturally responsive, Tribe-specific services on Tribal land.

Oklahoma State University is collaborating with the Indian Health Service to establish satellite locations for training American Indian psychologists within Oklahoma. Knutson said training psychologists in rural areas helps build community trust.

Risks of alternative staffing and prevention gaps

Some states utilize alternative staffing models to address counselor shortages. In Texas, school boards can use chaplains to provide student support, even though those in ministry may not have formal mental health education.

This practice can lead to the defunding of public education and leave students in virtual schools with limited access to mentors. Norwood-Strickland reported observing nonspeaking autistic children who remained on a waitlist for more than three years.

Delayed care often results in more complicated cases. Pratt stated that focusing on high-acuity care at the expense of prevention creates a cycle that leads to an increasing number of children in need of mental health services over time.

History of conflict between ISBE and federal regulators

The current dispute follows previous tensions between the Illinois State Board of Education and federal regulators. Last year, the board rejected a demand from the Education Department to discontinue diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.