Prairie State Wire

Illinois State Representative Adam Niemerg has voiced concerns over a new law mandating mental health screenings in public schools, arguing it undermines parental authority. He urged parents to opt out of the screenings for their children, as reported by the Prairie State Wire.

"This legislation is so much more than just a government overreach. It is a deliberate effort to undermine parental rights," said Adam M. Niemerg, Illinois State Representative for 102nd District. "There are legitimate fears that many kids will be forced to take dangerous drugs they do not need. Signs of depression such as sleeplessness, inability to focus and other symptoms are things ALL children experience. What will inevitably happen is normal childhood behavior will suddenly become a mental illness. Parents must opt out. It is not the job of school districts to parent kids. That job rests with the actual parents."

Governor JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1560 (SB1560) on July 31, which aims to provide free mental health screening tools to public schools and expand resources for parents through the BEACON portal. The legislation mandates annual screenings for students in grades 3–12 starting in 2027 and requires the Illinois State Board of Education to provide schools with model policies, guidance, and no-cost screening technology by September 2026. "Thanks to the bill sponsors and partners joining me today, annual mental health screenings will be available for all Illinois students in grades three through twelve by the 2027 school year," Pritzker said.

Carolyn Gorman, a policy analyst at the Manhattan Institute, expressed ethical concerns regarding Illinois' new universal school mental-health screening law. She cited research indicating over "50 percent false positives" on assessments and potential harm to students. According to Gorman's article in City Journal, decades of research suggest that universal mental-health assessments do not prevent issues or improve access to care. Experts warn about their questionable accuracy in non-clinical settings like schools.

Niemerg responded to inquiries from Prairie State Wire about the impact of this bill on Illinois schools and families. He questioned whether those administering tests might use them to promote political ideologies: "There are also concerns that the people administering these tests could be using it as a means to push a political ideology," Niemerg said. He raised issues about parental access to questions and answers from these screenings.

The representative emphasized that schools should prioritize meeting educational standards instead: "Approximately 37% of Illinois public school students are reading at or above grade level, while around 32% are performing math at grade level," Niemerg said. He argued that resources allocated for these tests would be better spent on teaching.

Adam Niemerg has served as a Republican State Representative for Illinois' 102nd District since January 2021. A former insurance professional and Eastern Illinois University graduate, he advocates conservative policies with an emphasis on parental rights and education.