Critics argue universal mental-health screenings turn schools into clinics

This spring Illinois became the first state to require every public-school student to undergo a mental-health screening, a move that other districts and states such as Virginia and Montana are watching. While the intention is to address a growing mental-health crisis among children, Manhattan Institute fellow Carolyn D. Gorman argues that universal screening has not been shown to improve mental-health outcomes or academic performance and often yields high false-positive rates.

She contends that schools are being asked to act as mental-health clinics, a role that belongs to parents, doctors, and specialists. Gorman suggests that teachers should be trained to spot warning signs and that targeted, consent-based assessments are a better alternative. She also notes that existing IDEA evaluation processes already provide a framework for identifying students with disabilities who need support. The piece calls for states to reconsider or prohibit blanket screening mandates.