Which States Require Mental Health Screenings in Schools? (Spring 2026)

A lot of school administrators are hearing that mental health screenings are now required, but the real picture is more nuanced. Here's a summary of current legislation in the United States regarding mental health screening.

Illinois: The Only True Mandate

Illinois is the only state in the country to require universal mental health screenings in K-12 schools. Governor Pritzker signed SB1560 in July 2025, requiring every public school district to offer annual screenings to students in grades 3–12. Districts must be in full compliance by the 2027–28 school year. The Illinois State Board of Education will release implementation guidance and approved screening tools by September 2026, but many districts are getting ahead of the mandate and piloting screening now.

New Jersey: Voluntary Grant Program

New Jersey has a state-funded grant program that provides resources to school districts that choose to implement annual depression screenings for students in grades 7–12. Participating districts use the PHQ-2 or an equivalent validated tool, screenings must be conducted electronically by a qualified professional, and parents must provide written consent before their child is screened. It's a meaningful program but participation is optional, not mandated.

New Mexico: Administrative Requirement

State administrative code requires schools to screen all students for health and well-being, including behavioral health needs. The state has also developed guidance for districts on how to fund screening services using existing sources like Title I funds and IDEA funding. The details are less defined than Illinois's mandate, but it's one of the few states with a screening requirement embedded in state code.

Utah: Voluntary Program With Real Traction

In 2020, Utah passed a law establishing a state-funded school mental health screening program. Districts can opt in, apply for grant funding to cover costs, and run screenings with required written parental consent. It's working: in the 2024 school year, more than 10,000 Utah students were screened, with 28% connected to resources or services. Utah has built a functioning voluntary model, it just hasn't moved toward a universal mandate.

Florida: Opt-In Only

Florida's 2021 Parents' Bill of Rights requires explicit written parental consent before any mental health screening can be administered to a student. Schools are permitted to run screening programs for a narrow set of approved conditions — anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation — but only with active opt-in from families. There is no universal or opt-out framework permitted. For districts in Florida, this means screening programs are possible but require a more deliberate consent outreach strategy to reach meaningful participation rates.

States With Pending Legislation

South Carolina introduced the Mental Health in Schools Act (HB 3478) in early 2025, which would create a statewide screening program for students in grades 6–12 with detailed privacy protections and annual district reporting requirements. It remains in committee. Iowa updated its education code in 2024 to allow schools to contract behavioral health screenings through third-party organizations, which may open the door to more formal requirements down the road. The broader national trend is clear: advocacy organizations are pushing hard in a number of states, and it's a safe assumption the list of states with formal requirements will grow meaningfully before the end of the decade.

The Bigger Picture

Even without state mandates driving it, a 2024 nationally representative survey of over 1,000 K-12 principals found that nearly a third of schools already require mental health screenings for students, most of that happening at the district level on its own initiative. The infrastructure for school-based screening is being implemented across the country. State mandates are accelerating what's underway.

The Bottom Line

If you're a school administrator, here's what this means: Illinois is leading the country, and other states are watching closely. Whether your state has a mandate or not, now is a good time to understand what a compliant screening program actually looks like.

Eligible Illinois schools can get free mental health screening implementation through Maro, including screeners, digital parent consent, staff training, and follow-up tools. You can check eligibility and nominate a school for free screening at meetmaro.com/illinois

This article was written by Maro to help school administrators understand the current landscape of mental health screening legislation. It reflects information available at time of publication. We recommend verifying current requirements with your state's department of education.