Students can now access school-based health services, including telehealth visits and routine screenings. The expansion is designed to support student health and reduce time missed in the classroom.
Federal officials want schools to end mental health screenings, saying they stigmatize kids and medicalize normal behavior. Experts counter that screenings spark conversations and connect students to care before crises.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed a law requiring public school students in grades 3 through 12 to undergo an annual mental health screening. The requirement takes effect in the 2027-28 school year, with at least one screening per student each year.
Even the best-laid plans for school choice can't compete with strong and supportive relationships between your team and families. So, stay flexible and stay informed.
"The amount of students who need mental health support and interventions outnumbers the amount of spots that we have available," one administrator said in a new report.
Earlier this year, a "mid-year screening" found nearly half of HISD principals fell short of proficiency. Some 117 were warned to improve their performance or risk removal, though Superintendent Mike Miles emphasized he expected the "overwhelming majority" of campus leaders to return.
NASSP's National Advocacy Champion of the Year Chris Young recently joined several hundred leaders in a trip to the nation's capital to discuss student mental health and teachers shortages. He shares with District Administration why advocacy has always been his responsibility.
Ask a lot of superintendents—and we do—and they'll say that quality preschool experiences are key to most students' success in K12. Read on for some good news about early learning.
