A new law in South Carolina will expand access to free and reduced-price school lunches and prohibit schools from penalizing students over unpaid meal debt. The legislation, signed by Governor Henry McMaster earlier this month, makes permanent a previously temporary budget provision.
The law specifically outlaws “meal-shaming,” a practice where students with outstanding meal debt might be denied food, given alternative meals, or excluded from school activities. This measure aims to prevent children from being disciplined for their inability to pay for meals.
Crucially, the law also requires schools to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the federal Free and Reduced School Lunch Program. Under CEP, schools where at least 40% of students qualify for free lunch can opt in, resulting in free lunches for the entire student body. This eliminates the need for numerous individual applications and aims to reduce administrative burdens.
While the federal government covers most of the cost for CEP, depending on the percentage of qualifying students, school districts are responsible for the remainder. Experts noted that before a budget proviso enacting this two years ago, many districts chose not to participate. Under the new law, schools can only opt out if they can demonstrate that participation would create a financial hardship.
Advocates for the law suggest that school participation makes lunch administration easier and alleviates a burden for struggling families, ensuring children are fed at school. It is also believed to reduce any embarrassment or stigma associated with receiving free lunch, as all students in participating schools automatically receive meals.
The law became effective upon the governor’s signature and will be in effect for the upcoming school year, provided federal funding for the school lunch program remains consistent.
