New York Democrat Assemblywoman Margaret Markey has introduced a bill which would require all New York students to undergo a mandatory psychological evaluation before attending school. Bill A8186 states:
Includes psychological screening for students in public schools as part of the required health certificate.
A health certificate shall be furnished by each student in the public schools upon his or her entrance in such schools and upon his or her entry into the grades prescribed by the commissioner in regulations, provided that such regulations shall require such certificates at least twice during the elementary grades and twice in the secondary grades. An examination and health history of any child may be required by the local school authorities at any time in their discretion to promote the educational interests of such child. Each certificate shall be signed by a duly licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner, who is authorized by law to practice in this state, and consistent with any applicable written practice agreement, or by a duly licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner, who is authorized to practice in the jurisdiction in which the examination was given, provided that the commissioner has determined that such jurisdiction has standards of licensure and practice comparable to those of New York.
PERFORMED AND THAT THE CHILD IS MENTALLY FIT TO PERMIT ATTENDANCE AT, SCHOOL. Each such certificate shall also state the student’s body mass, index (BMI) and weight status category.
What is the purpose? I can see how, if a student is noted to have mental illness or emotional difficulties, an educator would want assurances that these issues are being addressed, but to universally subject New York public school students to the requirement? Who pays for this? The law doesn’t specify, other than to say that these psych evaluations would be required twice in elementary grades and twice in secondary grades. Middle class families are already budgeting their finances and this would be an additional chunk out of their budgets. What also are the standards of mental wellness?
Additionally, the demand that a student’s full health history must be available to school districts at the district’s discretion reeks of overreach. Common Core is already requiring that students divulge information relating to their parents’s political affiliation and religion, which is completely unnecessary for the goal of academic instruction, as is requesting parents to sign contracts about their firearms or requiring parents to inform the school of ownership.
Considering the recent headlines featuring teachers behaving badly with students, I wonder if teachers shouldn’t receive the mandatory psych evaluation instead—or even the lawmakers who propose such overreaches.
The bill was introduced in October of 2013 and referred to the education committee on January 8, 2014.
