HB 2840 requires Arizona public schools and charter schools to provide annual nutrition education for all students from kindergarten through 12th grade. This includes teaching practical healthy eating habits, scientific evidence on diet/exercise, disease prevention, and meal planning skills, with a focus on nutrient-dense foods and the impacts of ultraprocessed foods. The bill also mandates 30 minutes of daily physical activity for all students, allowing options like physical education classes, scheduled breaks, or active classroom time, while permitting medical exemptions. These requirements directly affect all Arizona K-12 schools and their students, aiming to integrate health education into daily school routines.
HB 2142 establishes a school safety program within Arizona’s Department of Education to fund safety personnel and resources for schools. It directly affects Arizona public school districts and charter schools, which can apply for up to three years of funding to cover costs for school resource officers, counselors, social workers, safety technology, training, or infrastructure improvements. School applications must include detailed safety assessments, building plans, and specific plans for implementing programs (like law-related education or counseling services), with requirements differing based on whether the funding supports personnel or alternative safety measures. The program is administered by the Department of Education’s School Safety Center, which reviews proposals using crime and academic data and verifies school submissions.
HB 2921 requires Arizona public school districts to provide daily physical education for all K-12 students, with at least 60% of that time spent in moderate activity. The bill mandates instruction including team activities (like dance), career pathways in health/fitness, and skills for lifelong physical activity. Exceptions allow excusal for students on school sports teams (with minimum weekly activity), medical reasons, chronic health conditions, IEP team decisions, or parental requests. It also prohibits outdoor activities during extreme weather, directly affecting all public school students and their districts' physical education programs.
