Should Schools be Prohibited From “Lunch Shaming” Children Unable to Pay for a Meal? (H.R. 2401)

What is H.R. 2401?

(Updated July 26, 2019)

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.

Argument in favor

It’s wrong for schools to discriminate against or stigmatize children because their parents haven’t paid their school meal bills. Lunch shaming should be prohibited.

Argument opposed

There’s nothing wrong with having children whose parents can’t pay for their meals at school do extra chores, this bill is a solution in search of a problem.

Impact

Children who would otherwise be lunch shamed; parents; school administrators and teachers.

Cost of H.R. 2401

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM) introduced this bill to ban schools from “lunch shaming” — publicly singling out children through wristbands or chores if they can’t pay for school meals:

“No student should be humiliated in front of their peers because their parents can’t afford to pay for a meal. It is shocking and shameful that this happens to hungry children, but nearly half of all school districts use some form of lunch shaming. This bipartisan bill will put an end to these draconian practices and help ensure that students can focus on their studies without looking over their shoulder to see their friends pointing fingers.”

This legislation has the support of 90 bipartisan cosponsors in the House, including 86 Democrats and four Republicans.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM) & Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) Joint Press Release
  
• The Hill
  
• Civil Eats