Peoria School Board Considers Replacing Social Workers with More Police Officers

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Peoria Unified School District's governing board is debating a plan that could phase out grant-funded school social workers and redirect that money to hire more school resource officers. The district's current funding for social workers is set to expire on June 30, 2026, and the board must decide whether to reapply for counselor and social worker positions or pivot fully to officer funding instead.

Why it matters

This decision reflects a broader debate over campus culture and student support, with some parents and advocacy groups pushing for a stronger law enforcement presence while others argue for more mental health resources. The outcome will shape staffing and student services for years to come.

The details

The board meeting on April 9 included discussion of eliminating all of the district's social workers and using those funds for additional school resource officers. A final decision could come as the board maps out its strategy for state safety-grant slots for Fiscal Year 2027. The Arizona Department of Education's School Safety Program, which provides the grant funding, prioritizes school resource officers and school safety officers over counselors and social workers.

• The district's current funding for school social workers is set to expire on June 30, 2026.
• The board voted on March 12 to authorize campuses to apply for the Fiscal Year 2027 School Safety Program grant.

What’s next

The Peoria Unified School District governing board will make a final decision on whether to eliminate social worker positions and redirect that funding to school resource officers as part of its strategy for the Fiscal Year 2027 School Safety Program grant.