“Lunch-shaming bans are steps in the right direction. But it doesn’t address the root cause: Not every student can afford lunch.”
“There are many factors that can lead to a family acquiring lunch debt. For example, immigrant families might fear filling out the federal form, even though non-U.S. students qualify for free and reduced lunch. Or families may need some financial support but not technically qualify for free or reduced lunch. The application process can be lengthy and cumbersome, so families may fill out the form incorrectly, and unknowingly rack up meal debt. Some families are uncomfortable asking for assistance, while other families might not know they qualify for it.”
“Students going into debt can often be a flag that something more is happening in the household,”
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