A year ago, lawmakers decided to change school health examination requirements. They want to add screenings for social and emotional development. But the details are still being worked out.
The law leaves it up to the Illinois Department of Public Health to put together the rules regarding these screenings. As the law reads right now, it’s vague. How they’ll be done, who receives them, and the tools needed to do so isn’t spelled out… that’s what the stakeholders are trying to figure out.
Brenda Huber, with the Illinois School Psychologists Association, says there’s a lot to consider.
“Each of these systems are separate silos. Schools vs. mental health vs healthcare. This law really requires those three to work together in a way that is really challenging because they’re not integrated at the state level.”
There will be two more informational meetings before the final rules are drafted. After that, it could take another year or more before they are implemented.