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This bill would prohibit schools from publicly identifying or otherwise stigmatizing children participating in the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program who either don’t have funds to pay for a meal or have an outstanding credit from a school food authority. Such children couldn’t be forced to wear a wristband or hand stamp, perform chores that other students aren’t generally assigned to, or dispose of food after it has been served to them.

Any communications related to outstanding credit would have to be directed to the child’s parent or guardian. A child may be required to deliver a letter regarding outstanding credit that’s addressed to the parent or guardian if the letter isn’t distributed in a way that stigmatizes the child.

This bill would also express the sense of Congress that schools should be provided with lunch or breakfast at school regardless of their ability to pay, those who can’t pay shouldn’t be provided an alternate meal, and schools should explore innovative ways to improve communications and payments with parents. It'd also request that the Secretary of Agriculture:

Ensure the annual distribution of understandable, uniform applications for free or reduced price lunches and encourages school food authorities to offer assistance to complete the applications;
Coordinate with school food authorities and local education agency liaisons to ensure that homeless children and youth are eligible to receive a free or reduced price lunch;
Coordinate with state agencies responsible for foster children and youth to ensure that both are eligible to receive a free or reduced price lunch; and
Explore innovative ways to use technology to improve and coordinate communications between parent(s) or guardian(s) and school food authorities.

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Should Schools be Prohibited From 'Lunch Shaming' Children Unable to Pay for a Meal?