Preschool Screening info to know before you sign your child up. www.edwatch.org

Expansion of Early Childhood Screening (HF 3470 Slawik /SF 3119 Rummel) - This bill directs the governor's early childhood advisory council to make recommendations to legislature by 2012 about how to expand the already subjective, ineffective, and duplicative early childhood screening program. That early childhood mental health is a significant target is evidenced by the bill itself that says the domains of school readiness include "social; self-regulation" and documents obtained by EdWatch for an upcoming meeting of the Early Childhood Advisory Council, Standards Subcommittee that show that mental health is in one of the "four ovals" of emphasis in early childhood standards. Mental health screening of young children continues to be done based on a rule for which there is no legislative authority. This is all despite the fact that the National Council on Infant and Child Health Policy among many other groups admits that accurately diagnosing and treating mental problems in young children is extremely difficult. In addition, the bill does nothing to acknowledge settled Minnesota statute 121A.17 subd. 3e and subd. 5. These statutes say that parents may conscientiously object to preschool screening and that districts must inform parents that they do not have to participate in preschool screening. These provisions are systematically ignored by school districts that repeatedly lie to parents falsely telling them that screening is legally required. This bill is especially onerous and dangerous to parental rights and autonomy and will likely lead to more children being falsely labeled and drugged.