By Tate Miller | The Center Square
A law firm is urging a federal investigation into a new Illinois law, arguing that the act that requires mental health screenings for all school children grades 3-12 violates the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, because it only includes communication with families about the screening and the option to opt-out instead of “affirmative parent consent.”
Policy director at American Principles Project Paul Dupont told The Center Square that Illinois’ law is “just the latest example of the continued erosion of parental rights in America’s public schools.”
“A healthy society would recognize that parents are the primary educators and caregivers for their children, and that schools merely play a supportive role,” Dupont said.
“But in recent years, government institutions have increasingly encroached on family matters, often on the unfounded assumption that parents might even be a danger to their own children,” Dupont said.
“That is the reason why so many school districts today have policies prohibiting parents from being informed if their child adopts a transgender identity,” Dupont said. “And it is also likely why Illinois has now instituted this policy of mental health screenings for students without affirmative parental consent.”
“These practices are fundamentally anti-family, and parents should oppose them,” Dupont said.
Senior Director of Communications at Defending Education Erika Sanzi emphasized to The Center Square that “requiring unlicensed people to screen asymptomatic children every year is wildly irresponsible government overreach.”
“This whole trend of schools tinkering in the minds of other people’s children needs to stop – it isn’t helping anyone and there is substantial evidence to suggest it’s actually causing harm,” Sanzi said.
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