If you owe money for lunch, you may have to sit out celebrations

School administrators in Londonderry, New Hampshire are considering a policy that would prevent students from participating in graduation, senior week, or other non-academic, end-of-year activities if they owe money for school lunches.

School lunch debt is climbing

Right now students owe roughly $15,000 for school lunches in Londonderry.  Administrators say only a fraction of this debt is from students who qualify for the free or reduced lunch program.  Instead they believe students may be abusing the system.

“What we're looking for is to have a policy or procedure in place to teach kids that they need to be financially responsible and for us to be responsible to the taxpayers.”

- Londonderry Superintendent Scott Laliberte

Opponents of “lunch shaming”

Since parents are ultimately responsible for paying for their children’s lunches, opponents argue it is unfair to single out students with school lunch debt.

Some states have even passed laws prohibiting policies that shame students by denying them lunch or giving them a different meal. 

How should schools recover lunch debt?

Would you support a policy that prevents students from participating in non-academic end-of-year activities if they owe lunch money?  Or do you have an idea for a different approach?  Share your thoughts in the comments below.