FILE – In this Dec. 2, 2010, file photo, a child pays for a lunch consisting of fruits and vegetables during a school lunch program at Fairmeadow Elementary School in Palo Alto, Calif. California and Pennsylvania both passed laws in 2017 to outlaw "lunch shaming" of children for unpaid meals, with the Pennsylvania measure that became law in November requiring communication about money owed on meal accounts to be done between school officials and parents, and not involve the student.
Jeremy was a Digital Producer at WITF until July 2025.
Paul Sakuma / AP Photo
FILE – In this Dec. 2, 2010, file photo, a child pays for a lunch consisting of fruits and vegetables during a school lunch program at Fairmeadow Elementary School in Palo Alto, Calif. California and Pennsylvania both passed laws in 2017 to outlaw "lunch shaming" of children for unpaid meals, with the Pennsylvania measure that became law in November requiring communication about money owed on meal accounts to be done between school officials and parents, and not involve the student.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is eliminating universal free meals for kids, a program that was put in place early in the pandemic.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) says some students will still be eligible for free or discounted meals, but notes that the USDA has also changed its eligibility guidelines.
When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb starts the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home.
