Peoria Unified School Board Votes to Cut Social Worker and Counselor Positions

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The Peoria Unified School Board in Arizona has voted to cut nine social worker and mental health counselor positions that were previously funded by the state's School Safety Program. The district says the funding for these roles is sunsetting, and they are now prioritizing getting more school resource officers instead of replacing the lost social worker and counselor positions.

Why it matters

This decision comes as the district is facing budget deficits and looking for ways to cut costs, including closing school campuses. The loss of social workers and counselors could have significant impacts on student mental health and wellbeing, especially as schools continue to grapple with the effects of the pandemic.

The details

The Peoria Unified School District previously had 33 positions funded through the state's School Safety Program, which allowed them to hire 22 social workers. However, policy changes have reduced that funding, leaving the district with only 9 social workers this year. The district says they are looking for additional funding sources, but getting more school resource officers is a higher priority than replacing the lost social worker and counselor roles.

• The Peoria Unified School Board voted to cut the 9 social worker positions on Thursday, April 11, 2026.
• The state's School Safety Program funding that previously covered these positions is sunsetting for the current school year.

What’s next

The district is currently in the process of applying for a new round of state grants that will begin for the next school year, but ADE has said the need is high and they are asking the state legislature for additional funding.