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Bill

H 818

An act relating to mental health screening in schools

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Daisy Berbeco

Vermont H 818 would implement mental health screening programs in schools to identify and support students with psychological concerns, pending Education Committee review.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Education
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Bill Summary · H 818

Legislative bill overview

H 818 proposes mandatory or expanded mental health screening programs in Vermont schools. The bill would establish protocols for identifying students with mental health concerns and connecting them to appropriate support services. The specific screening mechanisms, age groups targeted, and implementation requirements are determined by the committee's review process.

Why is this important

Mental health issues among school-age children have increased significantly, with early identification potentially enabling timely intervention. However, screening programs raise questions about resource allocation, parental involvement, student privacy, and whether schools are the appropriate venue for clinical mental health assessment versus referral to qualified professionals.

Potential points of contention

  • Parental consent and notification: Disagreement over whether parents must approve screening and be informed of results before schools take action
  • Privacy and data security: Concerns about how mental health information is stored, who accesses it, and protection against misuse or stigmatization
  • Implementation costs and school capacity: Questions about funding, training requirements for screeners, and whether schools have sufficient resources and expertise to administer clinically appropriate assessments
  • Over-identification vs. clinical validity: Risk of false positives leading to unnecessary referrals, or alternatively, whether screening adequately catches genuine mental health needs

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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