S 2944 — No Shame at School Act of 2025

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in Senate Current html September 30, 2025

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill mandates certification for certain students regarding free or reduced-price meal eligibility and aims to reduce stigma associated with unpaid school meal fees.

• 42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(5)

  any local educational agency may → a local educational agency shall

  This change makes the certification for free or reduced-price meal eligibility mandatory for local educational agencies.

• 42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(9)(C)

  Except → (i) In general.--Except

  This change provides a general framework for retroactive reimbursement of meal claims.

• 42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(9)(C)

  (ii) Retroactivity.-- (I) In general.--A local educational agency shall revise a previously submitted meal claim to reflect the eligibility approval of a child for free or reduced price meals for the period that begins on the first day of the current school year. (II) Definition of meal claim.--In this clause, the term `meal claim' means any documentation provided by a school food authority to a State agency to receive reimbursement for the cost of a meal served to a child by that school food authority.

  This addition allows local educational agencies to revise claims retroactively based on eligibility changes, enhancing access to meal reimbursements.

• 42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(10)

  (10) Reducing stigma associated with unpaid school meal fees.-- (A) Definitions.--In this paragraph: (i) Covered child.--The term `covered child' means a child who-- (II) is eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under this section. (ii) Unpaid school meal fees.--The term `unpaid school meal fees' means outstanding fees owed by a household to a local educational agency for lunch provided under the school lunch program under this Act or breakfast provided under the school breakfast program under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773).

  This new provision introduces definitions relevant to reducing stigma associated with unpaid meal fees and identifies those impacted.

• 42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(10)

  (B) Overt identification prohibited.--A local educational agency or school food authority may not, based on the status of a covered child as a covered child-- (i) physically segregate the covered child; (ii) overtly identify the covered child-- (III) by an announcement or a published list of names; or (iii) identify or stigmatize the covered child by any other means.

  This addition prohibits schools from stigmatizing students who owe unpaid meal fees, ensuring they are treated equitably.

• 42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(10)

  (C) Eligibility determination by local educational agency.--For any covered child who is a member of a household that owes 1 week or more of unpaid school meal fees, a local educational agency shall-- (i) attempt to directly certify that covered child for free meals under paragraph (4) or (5); or (ii) if a local educational agency is not able to directly certify that covered child under paragraph (4) or (5), provide to the household of the covered child-- (I) a household application for free meals and applicable descriptive material; and (II) written and oral communications to encourage submission of that application.

  This provision requires schools to help families apply for free meals if they owe unpaid fees, thereby reducing stigma.

• 42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(10)

  (D) Collection of unpaid school meal fees.--In attempting to collect unpaid school meal fees from a household, a local educational agency or school food authority may not-- (iii) use a debt collector (as defined in section 803 of the Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1692a)).

  This change prevents schools from using debt collectors to pursue unpaid meal fees, which could adversely affect students.

• 42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(10)

  (F) Eliminating stigma in meal service.--In providing a meal to a covered child, a local educational agency or school food authority may not, based on the status of the covered child as a covered child, dispose of or take away from the covered child any food that has already been served to the covered child.

  This clause ensures that students who owe meal fees cannot have their food taken away, further reducing stigma.

Action History

1. September 30, 2025

   Introduced in Senate

2. September 30, 2025

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Sponsors

• Tina Smith · Primary

Subjects