• Update on Support for Students 

    In Peoria Unified, we have always had a commitment to supporting every student so they can best be prepared to learn. Recently, there have been discussions in our community about the specific supports we provide to students so they can achieve their fullest academic potential. Given the increased public interest, and some misinformation circulating on this topic, the district is committed to transparency and clarifying the facts related to the current status of our student supports and how they are funded. 

    2019 US Department of Education Mental Health Service Professionals Demonstration Grant 

    In 2019, Peoria Unified was awarded the initial US Department of Education Mental Health Service Professionals Demonstration Grant, making us one of 27 districts nationwide to receive this funding and the only school district in Arizona to be awarded. The five-year grant, set to expire on September 30, 2024, has funded three social work field instructors who provide training for social work interns the district receives in partnership with local universities, as well as to provide essential supports to students and families in the district including identifying and sharing resources and strategies for mental health services to provide an optimal learning environment for students. 

    At the September 17 Governing Board meeting, the district requested approval for a no-cost extension of the current 2019 grant, which would have allowed the district to continue utilizing remaining grant funds after September 30, 2024, when the initial grant ended. While the vote failed for this no-cost extension, the district is still obligated to fulfill its contracts with the local university partners, so that these interns may fulfill their coursework requirements through June 30, 2025. The district will continue to fund the three social work field instructors through this school year using a combination of a district unrestricted gift and donation fund and grant indirect cost fund. Both funds are separate from the district’s maintenance and operations fund. The continuation of the three social work field instructors in positions through the end of the school year was approved as part of the district’s Human Resources Report at the September 26 Governing Board meeting. 

    2024 US Department of Education Mental Health Service Professionals Demonstration Grant 

    On May 29, 2024, the Governing Board approved the district’s request to submit the application for the US Department of Education’s 2024 Mental Health Service Professionals Demonstration Grant. This is a separate federal grant that would continue the work from the previous federal grant that has since expired. We have yet to receive an update on the status of our application. 

    If the district is awarded this grant, the funding for the three social work field instructors will move into this grant, which goes through June 30, 2029. This grant would also allow the district to expand services and supports to district schools that do not currently have a social worker. 

    Other Supports for Students 

    · The district currently has 33 social workers funded through the Arizona Department of Education’s School Safety Program grant. It is important to note that the social work interns, and the social work field instructors who supervise them and were supported by the 2019 grant, do not provide clinical services or psychotherapy support for students. Parents always have a choice to determine if their child receives support from a social worker or a social work intern at the elementary and high school level. Social workers have master’s degrees and are certified through the Arizona Department of Education. 

    · Behavior interventionists primarily provide services to students with exceptional needs as determined by an individualized education plan (IEP), which includes a parent or guardian, as required by federal law. These 24 staff members all have master’s degrees and a certification through the Arizona Department of Education and are shared by the district’s 43 schools. 

    · School psychologist’s primary focus is to conduct evaluations to determine eligibility for special education services and provide support to students who are on an IEP. The district has 47 full-time school psychologist positions which are allocated to schools based on enrollment. These staff members also have a minimum of a master’s degrees and are certified through the Arizona Department of Education. 

    · The district has 36 high school counselors with master’s degrees and state certification whose main focus is college and career readiness. They are also available to support students and families with interpersonal needs by providing access to outside resources. They also respond with grief support for students when there is a crisis at the school or community which requires a district response. 

    · The McKinney Vento liaison is the district’s employee who provides support and resources to identified families experiencing homelessness, as required by the 1987 McKinney Vento Act and in collaboration with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Last year, the district served 379 homeless students and families. 

     

    There is no other place than our district public schools with more adults committed to the safety and well-being of children so they can continue to focus on their learning. Our district remains steadfast in its commitment to meet the comprehensive needs of our students, which includes their academic success, safety, and well-being. As we move forward, we will continue to explore all available resources and strategies based on research and best practices to ensure our students receive the support they need to learn.