Rights9/16/2026

High Court of Justice Did Not Suspend Pilot Program to Assist Children With Allergies in Schools

The Yahel Association of Parents of Children With Allergies challenged the pilot program, under which aides at eight elementary schools will be replaced by nurses from the school staff. The High Court of Justice denied the request to temporarily freeze the program and scheduled another hearing for the beginning of next month.

Key facts

•Court: The Supreme Court of Israel sitting as the High Court of Justice—Bagatz
•The pilot program encompasses eight elementary schools
•The nurse is intended to work full time
•The request to freeze the pilot program was denied
•Another hearing was scheduled for the beginning of next month
•The article was updated on September 16, 2026

What Is Changing in the Schools

Since the beginning of the school year, the Ministry of Education, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, has been operating a pilot program in eight elementary schools from different educational streams. A full-time nurse is intended to replace a medical aide who accompanies a specific student with an allergy, identifies dangerous food products, and, in the event of an anaphylactic reaction, administers epinephrine using an EpiPen auto-injector. In addition, the nurse has been tasked with providing first aid, assessing students’ medical needs, supporting children with chronic illnesses, administering vaccinations, conducting screening tests, and training the school staff.

Why the Parents Went to Court

The Yahel Association argues that the nurse will not be physically able to remain alongside the child continuously and may therefore identify the allergen or administer an EpiPen too late. In the parents’ view, continuous supervision is especially important for young children. The association also argued that the pilot began without the parents’ consent, contrary to the Ministry Director General’s Circular and before the body that would conduct the accompanying research had been selected.

The Ministries’ Position and the High Court of Justice’s Decision

The Ministry of Education stated that the parents had not given their consent but had been notified in August, and that the Director General’s Circular would be amended in accordance with the pilot program. The tender to select the research body is expected to conclude at the end of October, so the research will begin no earlier than November—two months after the program’s launch. The ministries rely on the professional position of the Israeli Association of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, which supports reducing the personal-aide model and examining a nurse-based alternative. The High Court of Justice did not freeze the pilot program, but the final outcome of the proceeding is not stated in the source.

Separate Dispute Over Banning Allergenic Food Products

The Israel Medical Association stated in a published position paper that it has not been proven that banning allergenic food products from educational institutions can prevent anaphylaxis. In its assessment, the concept of an entirely allergen-free environment may create a false and dangerous sense of security. The association also pointed to substitutes with lower nutritional value for certain products and to the risk that children with allergies may be bullied because of the restrictions imposed.

What this means for you

For now, the pilot program remains in operation: at participating schools, a nurse from the school staff may assist children with allergies instead of a personal aide. Parents should bear in mind that the court has not yet issued the final decision referenced in the source, and that the program’s operating procedures and the relevant Ministry circular may still change.

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