I understand that Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) and Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) have reintroduced the No Shame at School Act. Under the bill, schools would not be allowed to publicly identify or stigmatize students who are behind on meal payments. They would also not be allowed to hire debt collectors to go after families of students who have accumulated negative school meal balances.
The bill was originally introduced in 2019 and reintroduced again in 2022.
A handful of states have already passed their own laws banning lunch shaming, including North Dakota and others. States that offer universal free school meals, including Minnesota, have also done away with lunch shaming since they provide all public school students free school meals each day free of charge (this should be a federal priority).
No child should have to go through the experience of being shamed at school for an unpaid lunch bill. We need to set our children up for success in school. Making sure kids get the school lunches they need without being made to feel ashamed or embarrassed is an important part of that success. Please support this bill and fight to pass it. Thanks.
