Arizona students face some of the highest counselor-to-student ratios in the nation, despite rising mental health needs and academic stress. While community organizations and school leaders have stepped in to support students where they can, the state has yet to invest meaningfully in growing the school mental health workforce.

Brett’s plan to hire more school counselors addresses this crisis head-on, building a statewide support system that puts student well-being first:

Address the Worst Counselor‑to‑Student Ratio in the Nation: Arizona has roughly 753 students for every one school counselor, far higher than the nationally recommended ratio of 250‑to‑1. This shortage leaves many students without access to academic guidance and mental‑health support.

• Brett will propose legislation setting a target of achieving a 350‑to‑1 ratio within five years and a 250‑to‑1 ratio within ten years.

This requires hiring thousands of counselors, social workers, psychologists, and nurses. Funding should come from the general fund, Prop 123, and any state surplus.

Build and Sustain the Counseling Workforce: To grow the counselor pipeline, Brett will:

• Create scholarships and loan‑forgiveness programs for graduate students who commit to serving in Arizona schools.

• He will work with universities to expand counseling and social‑work programs and advocate for remote learning options for rural residents.

• He will also support reciprocity agreements to make it easier for out‑of‑state counselors to work in Arizona and provide competitive salaries and retention bonuses for experienced counselors.

Integrate Mental‑Health Services and Monitor Outcomes
Research shows that counselors improve graduation rates, reduce disciplinary disparities, and help prevent suicides.

• Brett will coordinate state and federal grant funding to create comprehensive school‑based mental‑health teams. These teams will provide tiered support, from universal social‑emotional learning to individualized therapy.

• Brett will require districts to report counselor caseloads, student outcomes, and referral patterns, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement.