PRESS RELEASE: ICYMI: Student-to-Counselor Ratio in Arizona Worst in the Nation, Republicans Continue to Oppose Solutions

Written By Clarissa Rodriguez

Phoenix - Last month, Axios reported that Arizona continues to have the worst in the nation student-to-counselor ratio. This continues a trend of Arizona ranking near the bottom in student-to-counselor ratio including in the 2021-2022, 2020-2021, and 2019-2020 school years. 

 

Despite this dire reality, Republicans in the Arizona legislature have failed to advance solutions. In 2022, Democratic Representative Judy Schwiebert (LD2) introduced legislation to expand the Arizona Teachers Academy to cover mental health professionals. Republican leadership refused to give the bill a hearing. In both 2023 and 2024, Rep. Schwiebert once again introduced legislation to create a school mental health professionals academy. Once again, Republicans failed to consider the legislation. 

 

Legislative Republicans haven’t just refused to hear Democratic bills on the topic, they have voted against any bills that advance at the Capitol. During a Senate Education Committee hearing in January 2024, Senators Justine Wadsack and Shawnna Bolick both voted no on SB1105, which would expand the School Safety Program to hire more school psychologists.  

Clarissa Rodriguez
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