April 26, 2019 / Modified apr 29, 2019 4:19 p.m.

School Counselors Lacking in Arizona's Schools

UA Professor of Counseling Education Lia Falco described the benefits of having a counselor on campus.

Funding for more counselors is an issue at the forefront of discussions about how to improve K-12 schools in Arizona. Lia Falco is a former school counselor and professor of counseling education at the University of Arizona. She discussed the role counselors can play in a student's development.

"They're certified educators with a background in mental health. All school counselors have to have a master's degree in the state of Arizona to become certified. They really are well-positioned in the schools to be able to provide comprehensive, preventive and responsive support services for students," Falco said.

According to Falco, the latest data ranks Arizona last in the nation for the counselor-to-student ratio, with one counselor for every 900 students on average.

Arizona 360
Arizona 360 airs Fridays at 8:30 p.m. on PBS 6 and Saturdays at 8 p.m. on PBS 6 PLUS. See more from Arizona 360.
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