Relating to the administration of social, academic, and emotional behavior risk screener tools by school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools

This bill relates to the administration of social, academic, and emotional behavior risk screener tools by school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools. The bill authorizes school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to administer to all of the students in a class or attendance center a social, academic, and emotional behavior risk screener tool that is used to identify students who are at risk for social or emotional health problems without first obtaining the written consent of the student’s parent or guardian. Current law prohibits an employee or contractor of a school district, charter school, or innovation zone school from answering any question pertaining to any particular student in any survey related to the social or emotional abilities, competencies, or characteristics of the student, unless certain specified requirements are satisfied. The bill provides that this prohibition shall not be construed to prohibit an employee or contractor from answering questions pertaining to any particular student as part of a social, academic, and emotional behavior risk screener tool that is used to identify students who are at risk for social or emotional health problems.