NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Schools would be banned from “lunchshaming” students unable to afford school meals, under a bill that hasbeen narrowly advanced by a Tennessee House panel.
The proposal (SB1593 & HB1589) would ban schools from requiring students with lunch debt to do chores, miss school activities, graduations or other activities that would publicly identify them as being unable to pay for a meal.
Schools would also have to help parents and guardians obtain freeor reduced-price meals for their students and offer to find any other availableassistance.
The measure passed the House Education Committee on a 13-10 voteWednesday. It must still pass the fully House and Senate.
