North Carolina district considers school lunch policy change

Students make their way out of Needham B. Broughton High School in Raleigh after the first day of the new school year for Wake County schools, Monday, August 28, 2017. (Eamon Queeney / North State Journal)

GREENSBORO — A North Carolina school system is considering a policy change that would prevent high school students from being denied a meal because they can’t afford it.

The Greensboro News & Record reported Sunday that high school students in Guildford County would be able to charge their meals under the proposed change.

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The current policy allows elementary and middle school students to charge up to five lunches and five breakfasts. Cafeterias then gives them a pared down meal if they still can’t pay for them.

Many students already qualify for federally-funded free meals based on family income. Anonymous donors in the county have also covered more than $46,500 in unpaid meal charges.

The issue of so-called “lunch shaming” has become a matter of debate in school districts across the nation.