The Southern Arizona Education Council, formerly the Metro Education Commission, in partnership with the Arizona Board of Regents, has expanded the 2025–2026 Peer Coach Program across 18 Pima County high schools. The program recruits and trains student mentors to guide their classmates through FAFSA completion and postsecondary planning—an effort central to the Council’s Strategic Imperatives for Empowerment, which focus on expanding college enrollment, reducing opportunity gaps, and cultivating student leadership.

This year’s participating schools include Amphitheater, Canyon del Oro, Ironwood Ridge, Marana, Mountain View, St. Augustine Catholic, Desert View, Sunnyside, Catalina, Cholla, Palo Verde, Pueblo, Rincon, Tucson, University, Andrada, Cienega, and Empire. Together, peer coaches and advisors will support thousands of students with financial aid applications, career exploration, and college planning.

The partnership between the Education Council and ABOR reflects the unification of two previously independent peer-to-peer support programs. The Council’s program—launched more than a decade ago through AmeriCorps—built a strong tradition of near-peer mentoring in Pima County schools. ABOR’s FAFSA Peer Coach initiative, meanwhile, gained statewide recognition for boosting FAFSA completion. Now joined under one strategy, the two programs deliver a singular, coordinated model that maximizes reach and impact for Arizona students.

Peer Coaches will focus primarily on cultivating a college-going culture through FAFSA workshops, campaigns, and school-based contests, while offering one-on-one advising. Beyond schools, the Council will also host FAFSA workshops across the Pima County Public Library system. Pima Community College is likewise supporting the effort with FAFSA sessions across its campuses throughout the school year.

The initiative aligns with Arizona’s statewide goal for the Class of 2026 to achieve 48% FAFSA completion, supported by the “50 by Fall” campaign, which incentivizes schools to reach 50% by December 31. In 2024–25, Pima County’s completion rate stood at just 37.10%. With this expanded program, the Council is targeting 48% locally, in step with the state benchmark.

“Peer-to-peer support changes the game,” said Rocque Perez, Tucson City Council Member and Co-Chair of the Southern Arizona Education Council. “This program gives students the tools and confidence to access college and career opportunities while building leadership capacity in our schools. It’s about equity at scale—ensuring Southern Arizona has the infrastructure to respond to national disruptions in education systems and resources that are already impacting our community.”

“Expansion to southern Arizona is a powerful step forward to make college a reality for every student in the state,” said Chad Sampson, ABOR executive director. “By empowering students to support one another, we’re building a culture of college-going and financial readiness that reaches into every community.”

The program launched earlier this month at Pima Community College’s Downtown Campus, where 67 students and 21 advisors trained on FAFSA updates, financial aid basics, and student engagement strategies. Together with Maricopa County, more than 225 peer coaches statewide are now prepared to support their peers.

Complementing this effort, the Southern Arizona College and Career Night on September 23 drew more than 2,000 students and families to the Tucson Convention Center, connecting them with over 130 colleges, universities, training programs, and employers.

Looking ahead, the Education Council plans to expand the Peer Coach Program further across Southern Arizona while also building capacity for a Southern Arizona College Resource Center, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of regional college access and ensuring every learner has the opportunity to thrive.

Media Contact: Rocque Perez, Tucson Council Member Co-Chair, Southern Arizona Education Council rocque@sazeducation.org