A bill moving through the Iowa legislature seeks to end the “food shaming” some say is happening in a few Iowa schools. Representative Kirsten Running-Marquardt of Cedar Rapids says it’s not the fault of the children if their parents failed to pay for lunch at school.
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Running-Marquardt says the “vast majority” of schools and food service workers handle school lunch debt compassionately.
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Representative Ruth Ann Gaines of Des Moines says this bill is long overdue for low-income students who’ve endured “shaming” at school over unpaid lunch bills.
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Bill backers say one key provision of the bill may help parents who’ve fallen behind on the school lunch tab for their children. Under current state law, Iowa school officials may notify parents ONCE A YEAR about enrolling their child in the free or reduced lunch program. This bill removes that limitation, so if a parent loses their job or encounters some other financial hardship during the school year, a school official may suggest filling out the paperwork for free and reduced lunches for their kids. The proposal must clear a COMMITTEE in the Iowa SENATE this week to remain eligible for debate in the full senate.
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