Arizona Healthy Schools Act

Arizona Healthy Schools Act COOLIDGE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

Important changes for the 2026-27 school year

Effective at the start of the 2026-27 school year, the Arizona Healthy Schools Act (A.R.S. 15-242.01), prohibits public schools participating in federally funded or assisted meal programs from serving, selling, or allowing a third party to sell ultra-processed food on the school campus during the regular school day.*

Allowed

• Food fundraisers held off campus or outside the school day.
• Food brought by parents for their own child.

 

These new rules do not apply to parents packing their child's individual lunch or snacks. You can still pack any lunches, snacks, or treats for your individual child. 

 

Restricted

• Shared food during the school day that contains banned ingredients, including those prepared and consumed in classroom activities.
• Classroom parties and celebrations with foods containing banned ingredients.
• School-sponsored birthday or holiday treats with banned ingredients.
• Students cannot share, sell, or distribute food brought from home that contains banned ingredients to classmates during the school day

 

Where it applies during the school day:

• School Meals
• School Stores
• Fundraisers
• Class Celebrations/Rewards
• Culinary and FACS Classes
• Catering
• Vending Machines

What are ultra-processed foods?

Foods containing the following banned ingredients:

• Potassium Bromate
• Propylparaben
• Titanium Dioxide
• Brominated Vegetable Oil
• Yellow Dye 5 or 6
• Red Dye 3 or 40
• Blue Dye 1 or 2
• Green Dye 3

*For this law, the school day is defined as midnight before instruction begins until 30 minutes after the instructional day ends.

Let’s work together for Healthier School1

These changes help create a safer, healthier school environment for all students. If you have questionsabout school meals, menu, or celebrations, please reach out for our Food & Nutrition Department.

Thank you for supporting your child’s wellness and our school community!