Bill > H0818

This bill establishes a voluntary mental health screening program in Vermont schools, requiring the Agency of Education, in partnership with the Department of Mental Health, to develop and oversee this program, allowing each school district, known as a supervisory union, to offer or arrange for evidence-based mental health screenings. These screenings must be age-appropriate, identify specific mental health conditions determined by the State Board of Education, and effectively flag students needing intervention or treatment, with the Board of Education tasked with creating rules for program administration, including notification processes, data privacy under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), training requirements, and the criteria for distributing financial support. Participating supervisory unions must annually inform parents about the program, obtain written consent before screening any student, provide screening results, discuss resources with parents of students who screen positive, and use allocated funds for screening services and support for students whose families cannot afford recommended interventions, with the Agency of Education distributing funds based on student enrollment and additional needs, and the bill also includes an appropriation of $10,000 for the program and sets an effective date of July 1, 2026.

Education

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.818