By Christian Alexandersen | calexandersen@pennlive.com
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on May 10, 2017 at 1:34 PM, updated May 10, 2017 at 1:35 PM
Children have been denied food, made to do chores and singled out if they are unable to pay for their school lunches. A bill being drafted in the Pennsylvania Senate aims to combat the practice of “lunch shaming.”
Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny, is seeking cosponsors for a bill that would prohibit schools from discriminating against or stigmatizing children who have outstanding credit or don’t have enough money to pay for meals. The bill is expected to be introduced next week.
There have been reports of children being required to do chores, forced to wear a stamp or wristband, given subpar lunch or denied food entirely when they don’t have enough money in their school lunch fund.
Sen. Bob Casey sponsors ‘lunch shaming’ bill to keep kids from being singled out
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey joined lawmakers Tuesday to sponsor a bill to prohibit schools from “lunch shaming” children that are unable to purchase meals at school.
The bill would require school districts to work with families to ensure every child has an opportunity to eat lunch and not be singled out for their financial situation, Costa said. Children should not have to be humiliated and ridiculed, he said, for not being provided lunch money from their parents.
Read more at http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/05/school_lunch_shaming_bill_draf.html.
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