Section 15.1-07-38 - School districts - Policy - School mealsA school district participating in the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act [42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.] shall adopt a school meals policy and publish the policy on the school district's website. A school meals policy must ensure:
1. A school may not deny a United States department of agriculture reimbursable meal to a student who requests one, unless the student's parent or guardian has provided written permission to the school to withhold a meal. A school may not serve an alternative meal to a student with an unpaid student meal balance or without funds to pay for a meal. This provision does not apply to an a la carte food item or second meal requested by a student during the same meal period.2. A school may not dispose of or take away from a child any food that already has been served to the child on account of the child having an unpaid student meal balance or lacking the funds to pay for a meal.3. A school may not identify or stigmatize a student as receiving a free, reduced-price, or full-price meal, or a meal for which the child lacks funds to pay, including the use of tokens, stickers, stamps, or by placing the child's name on a published list of persons with student meal debt.4. A school may not limit a student's participation in any school activities, graduation ceremonies, field trips, athletics, activity clubs, or other extracurricular activities or access to materials, technology, or other items provided to students due to an unpaid student meal balance.5. A school may not require a student to provide services or perform work, including cleaning duties or chores, to pay for school meals debt.6. A school may contact a student's parent or guardian directly regarding unpaid meals debt or a school meals account without funds to pay for additional meals. A school may require a child deliver a sealed letter addressed to the child's parent or guardian containing a written communication regarding the unpaid school meal debt. The letter may not be distributed to the child in a manner that stigmatizes the child.7. A school shall adopt policies to encourage or provide an incentive for a parent or guardian of a student to apply for free or reduced meals through the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act [42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.], including when a student has unpaid school meals debt.Added by S.L. 2023 , ch. 172( HB 1494 ), § 1, eff. 8/1/2023.