Prairie State Wire

Shannon Adcock, founder of Awake Illinois, said that public schools should prioritize academic performance over administering mental health programs. This statement was made on the social media platform X.

"Schools aren't clinical centers of care and they can never duplicate a clinical setting," said Shannon M Adcock. "We have 30% literacy rates in Illinois. K-12 schools need to focus on academics, not mental health screenings administered by woke activists. Opt out!"

Illinois has become the first state to mandate annual mental health screenings for students in grades 3–12, starting in the 2027–28 school year. According to NBC Chicago, these screenings will be confidential, and parents will have the right to opt their children out. Supporters highlight the benefits of early intervention, while critics express concerns about implementation and parental consent.

A 2024 report cited by K–12 Dive and the Illinois Policy Institute reveals that fewer than one in three Illinois fourth-graders read at grade level. Teacher surveys indicate that 61% of K–3 students struggle with phonics and 58% with phonological awareness. Educators are advocating for stronger literacy training and interventions in early grades.

Academic recovery in Illinois remains uneven despite increased school-based mental health support. The Harvard Education Recovery Scorecard reports that students in 2024 were still 37% of a grade level behind in reading and 30% behind in math compared to 2019. Chronic absenteeism and learning gaps continue to challenge statewide progress.

According to Awake Illinois, Adcock is the founder and president of the organization and a vocal advocate for parental rights in education. Based in Naperville, she has led campaigns opposing what she views as government overreach in schools and was involved in litigation expanding parental due process rights. She promotes civic involvement through local grassroots action.