Illinois’ New Student Mental Health Screening Law
What Senate Bill 1560 Means for Granite City Families

GraniteCityGossip.com, December 30, 2025

Illinois has become the first state in the nation to require annual mental‑health screenings for public‑school students. Governor JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1560 into law on July 31, 2025, creating a statewide system of free mental‑health check‑ins for students in grades 3 through 12.

The law is part of a broader effort to address rising youth mental‑health concerns and to connect families with support earlier and more consistently.

Beginning in the 2027–2028 school year, all Illinois public schools, including Granite City School District #9, must provide students with a mental‑health screening once per year.

Key take aways from this new law are the screenings will be free to districts and families as long as the state funds the program, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) will develop the screening tools and distribute them to schools starting September 2026, screenings will be similar to vision or hearing tests — brief, standardized, and designed to flag potential concerns early, the law expands the state’s Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative and connects families to the BEACON Portal, a state resource for navigating mental‑health services.

What families in Granite City can expect

Annual screenings for grades 3–12
Every student in these grades will complete a short mental‑health questionnaire once per year.

No cost to the district or families. The state will provide the screening tools and materials at no charge.

Screenings will be brief and non‑diagnostic They are not therapy sessions or psychological evaluations. They simply identify whether a student may need additional support.

Follow‑up only happens with parent involvement If a screening suggests a student may need help, the school must notify parents and provide resources. No treatment or referral happens without parental knowledge.

Local implementation decisions
Granite City School District #9 will decide when during the school year screenings occur
Whether they are digital or paper
How parents are notified
How follow‑up conversations are handled

Who Will Have Access to the Screening Results?
This is an important question, and the law is clear about privacy.

People who CAN access results:
Parents or legal guardians will always have access to their child’s results.
Designated school personnel
Typically:
School counselors
Social workers
School psychologists
Administrators responsible for student services
These individuals may review results to determine whether a student needs support.
State agencies (aggregated, non‑identifiable data only)
ISBE may receive summary data to evaluate the program, but not individual student results.

People who CANNOT access results:
Teachers not involved in student services
Other students
Other parents
Outside agencies
Law enforcement (unless required by a separate legal situation)
Screening results are protected under FERPA, the federal student‑privacy law.

Will the Screenings Include Gender‑Identity or Gender‑Affirmation Questions?
This is a concern many parents have, so here is the clearest breakdown:

The law does NOT require gender‑identity questions. SB1560 does not mention gender identity, gender‑affirming care, or any requirement to ask students about gender‑related topics.
The purpose of the screening is mental‑health risk only:
Depression
Anxiety
Trauma
Behavioral concerns
Risk of self‑harm

Districts can choose their own screening tool.
Some screening tools on the market include optional demographic questions, including gender identity, but:
Districts are not required to use those sections
Districts can disable or skip those questions

Parents have full rights:
You can review the questions
You can opt out entirely
Schools cannot hide screening content from parents
Students cannot be required to answer gender‑identity questions

What This Means for Granite City Families
For many families, the screenings may provide:
Early identification of anxiety, depression, or trauma
A clearer path to resources
Support for students who may be struggling silently
For others, especially those concerned about privacy or government involvement, the opt‑out option provides reassurance.
Granite City School District #9 will likely release its own guidance as the 2027–2028 school year approaches, explaining how the district will implement the law.

Sources
NPR Illinois – Pritzker signs bill to implement mental health screenings in schools
ABC News – Illinois becomes 1st state to require student mental health screenings
CBS Chicago – Gov. Pritzker signs bill requiring mental health screenings in all Illinois school districts
USA Today Network – Pritzker signs bill to implement universal mental health screenings
FOX2Now – Granite City School District focuses on mental health initiatives
Illinois Governor’s Office – Press release on SB1560 signing