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Bill

SB 39

Public schools; best practice of tech. tools to assist w/identifying students at risk of self-harm.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lashrecse Aird and 2 co-sponsors

Virginia schools must implement technology tools to identify at-risk students for self-harm prevention, raising privacy and algorithmic bias concerns.

Referred to Committee on Education
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Bill Summary · SB 39

Legislative bill overview

SB 39 directs Virginia public schools to adopt and implement best practices using technological tools to identify students at risk of self-harm or suicide. The bill passed the Virginia Senate unanimously and is now under review in the House Committee on Education. It establishes a framework for schools to use data analytics, monitoring systems, or similar technology to flag at-risk students for intervention.

Why is this important

Youth suicide and self-harm are significant public health concerns, and early identification can enable timely intervention and support. Schools are in a unique position to monitor behavioral changes, and technology tools could help identify vulnerable students who might otherwise go unnoticed. However, implementation involves sensitive data collection about minors' mental health and online activity.

Potential points of contention

  • Student privacy and data security: Collecting and analyzing data on student behavior and emotional states raises concerns about data protection, who has access to information, and potential misuse of psychological profiles of minors
  • Accuracy and false positives: Algorithmic identification tools may produce high rates of false alarms, potentially causing unnecessary stress or stigmatization, or miss genuinely at-risk students
  • Equity and bias in technology: AI-driven monitoring systems may disproportionately flag students from marginalized communities, creating disparate surveillance based on socioeconomic status, race, or disability status

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

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