Pima, Tucson Welcome New Peer Coach Cohort to Support College Readiness in Local High Schools
Joint City–County education body prepares student leaders from 19 Pima County high schools to help classmates access financial aid and plan for education after high school
TUCSON, Ariz. — The Southern Arizona Education Council, a joint body of Pima County and the City of Tucson formerly known as the Metropolitan Education Commission, has welcomed its 2026–27 Peer Coach Program cohort in partnership with the Arizona Board of Regents.
The program recruits and prepares high school students to guide their classmates through completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as the FAFSA, while helping build a stronger college-going culture across Pima County.
Throughout the school year, peer coaches will help organize FAFSA workshops and awareness campaigns, connect students with college-planning resources and provide one-on-one support to classmates who may be navigating financial aid and postsecondary planning for the first time.
This year’s cohort kickoff was hosted by the University of Arizona, welcoming 54 peer coaches and their advisors from Tucson, Pueblo, Catalina, University, Sabino, Palo Verde, Cholla, Rincon, Amphitheater, Canyon del Oro, Ironwood Ridge, Desert View, Sunnyside, Marana, Mountain View, Andrada Polytechnic, Empire, Cienega and Mica Mountain high schools.
The new cohort begins its work as Arizona raises its statewide FAFSA completion goal to 50% for the Class of 2027. The Southern Arizona Education Council has established a matching 50% goal for Pima County. According to the Arizona FAFSA Dashboard, 47.11% of Arizona’s Class of 2026 completed the FAFSA, compared with 43.62% of graduating seniors in Pima County. Those results demonstrate meaningful statewide progress while underscoring the need for sustained, locally coordinated support in Southern Arizona.
The Peer Coach Program also advances the Prosperity Initiative, a regional strategy adopted by Pima County and the City of Tucson to reduce generational poverty and help children reach adulthood with the skills, tools and resources needed for economic stability. By connecting students with postsecondary pathways, career planning and financial-aid support, the program contributes to three of the initiative’s priorities: expanding access to college and other postsecondary education and training, prioritizing workforce development for underserved populations, and improving financial capability. Additional information is available through the City of Tucson’s Prosperity Initiative website.
“Peer coaches make college access personal,” said Rocque Perez, president and chief executive officer of the Southern Arizona Education Council. “Students are often more comfortable beginning these conversations with someone who understands their school, their community and the questions they may be hesitant to ask. By preparing students to support one another, we are building leadership within our schools while helping more families access the financial resources that can make education after high school possible.”
The initiative continues the coordination of two previously independent peer-support models. The Education Council’s program originated more than a decade ago as an AmeriCorps initiative and developed a strong tradition of near-peer mentoring in Pima County schools. The Arizona Board of Regents’ FAFSA Peer Coach initiative began in Maricopa County and expanded peer-led FAFSA support across Arizona. Together, the organizations are providing a coordinated model designed to increase FAFSA completion and connect more students with postsecondary opportunities.
About the Southern Arizona Education Council
Created jointly by Pima County and the City of Tucson in 1990 as the Metro Education Commission, the Southern Arizona Education Council is a joint public advisory body and nonprofit that convenes education, government and community partners. Its mission is to empower a more educated and engaged community by connecting learners to opportunities to thrive with purpose through expansive academic and civic empowerment programs.
Media Contact
Rocque Perez
