Gov. JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1560 Thursday, which would require the State Board of Education and a children’s behavioral health team within the governor’s office to develop procedures and make mental health materials available to school districts. The board will provide those materials to schools beginning in September 2026.

Governor Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1560 to provide cost-free mental health screening tools to public schools in Illinois and inform parents and caregivers about the BEACON portal, making annual mental health screenings available for all Illinois students in grades 3-12 by the 2027 school year.

The bill, SB1560, requires all school districts to provide screening in grades 3 through 12 at least once a year.