Governor Hobbs and school nutrition partners celebrated the state’s ongoing investment in school meals by joining Madison Park Middle Schoolers for lunch.
Phoenix, AZ – August 6, 2025
At Madison Park Middle School in Phoenix today, Governor Katie Hobbs and 8th graders shared a nutritious lunch made from scratch to celebrate the state’s investment in school meals, which is being extended through the current academic year in Arizona’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget. The $3.8 million specifically covers the 70 cents per day—30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch—that families within a certain income threshold pay for reduced price school meals through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.
“About an additional 40,000 kids across the state will have access to free breakfast and lunch thanks to this investment, and that’s something Arizonans can be proud of,” said April Bradham, President and CEO of the Arizona Food Bank Network. “We are grateful to Governor Hobbs, Representative Nancy Gutierrez, and the Arizona Legislature for listening to the data that shows the state can and should continue this funding.”
The Arizona Food Bank Network (AzFBN), the School Nutrition Association of Arizona (SNAAZ), and other health and education advocates are celebrating now, when many schools are starting their academic years. This move builds on the history made last year when the state budget – for the first time ever – included General Fund resources for school meals. This policy change resulted in a 28% increase in school meals served to eligible students overall. Continuing this year means meant one less daily expense that Arizona parents and guardians needed to worry about, and more kids getting fed regardless of whether or not they have 30 or 40 cents.
State funding was initially informed by a comprehensive statewide assessment conducted by Arizona State University’s Food Policy and Environment Research Group and AzFBN (see 2023 report). This collaborative report confirmed that consumption of school meals are critical not only for greater food security and reduced obesity rates, but also for students’ attendance, academic achievement, and standardized test scores. In November 2024, the ASU research team published a follow-up assessment showing that an additional 1.4 million meals were served to low-income students each month because of the budget inclusion.
“Nutritious school meals are foundational to student learning, health, and overall wellness. This funding recognizes that when students are nourished, they’re better able to focus, participate, and reach their full potential. It’s a win for health, learning, and Arizona’s future,” said Melissa Harvey, Madison School District Nutrition Department Supervisor and Public Policy and Legislative Chair for SNAAZ.
With 1 in 5 children across Arizona experiencing food insecurity (according to the most recent Feeding America data) and fewer families able to qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) in the coming years, seeing bipartisan support from state lawmakers for feeding programs like this becomes even more crucial.
“Food service managers in the cafeteria here care so much about the quality of the meals they serve, it’s a relief that they can reach especially vulnerable kids now. They know they are an integral part of the learning process – it’s more than a meal. It literally takes a village,” said Kristin Soulsby, Director of Food and Nutrition Services for Madison School District.
Arizona’s $3.8 million investment in school meals takes the pressure off school nutrition staff and program providers, ensures that children who may be food insecure have guaranteed meals during the school day, lessens the stigma of school meal debt, and contributes to a hunger-free Arizona.
Contact: Ashley Thomas, Director of Public Policy, [email protected]
English 
Spanish