Govs Get It Done: Gov. Gavin Newsom Ends School Lunch-Shaming in California

Law guarantees all students will receive lunch even if their parents or guardians have not paid their meal fees.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday signed legislation ending the spreading practice of so-called “lunch shaming” where students with unpaid school lunch debt are denied a meal of their choice. Instead, students are often given an alternative cold meal like a cheese sandwich or PB&J.
How school districts handle student lunch debt has gained national attention in the past months. Gov. Newsom credited California elementary schooler Ryan Kyote for helping bring the issue into the spotlight after Kyote made news for donating his allowance to cover classmates’ lunch debt.
Read more about California’s new law below:
CNN: School lunch shaming will now be against the law in California
California just took a step toward making its school environments a little more inclusive.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law a new piece of legislation that guarantees all students will receive lunch even if their parents or guardians have not paid their meal fees.
People Magazine: Calif. Ends School Lunch-Shaming by Guaranteeing All Students Will Get a Meal
A 10-year-old boy’s fight to end student lunch debt and save his classmates the shame of being served an “alternative” meal at school has inspired real change in California.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation on Saturday to ban the practice of singling out students unable to pay for their lunch, and cited the efforts of elementary schooler Ryan Kyote in helping bring the issue to greater attention.
USA Today: California plans to end ‘lunch shaming’ with a new bill that guarantees meals for all students
A bill signed Saturday by California Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to cut the recent trend in schools of “lunch shaming.”
SB 265, which was originally introduced by California state Sen. Robert Hertzberg, will require that all public school students have a “state reimbursable” meal provided by the school “even if their parent or guardian has unpaid meal fees.”
The Hill: New California law bans school lunch debt shaming
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has signed into law a measure that guarantees students will receive state-funded lunches regardless of whether their parents or guardians have unpaid meal fees.