COLUMBUS, Ohio-Ohio House Bill 408, currently under review in the Primary and Secondary Education Committee, proposes significant changes to school meal policies. If enacted, the bill would ensure that every student, regardless of their financial situation, has access to meals at school.
School districts would be prohibited from denying meals to students due to unpaid balances or using meal debts as disciplinary measures. Communication regarding meal debt would be solely between the district and parents or guardians, with no disclosure of student identities upon request. Additionally, the bill empowers the Department of Education to provide guidance to districts on managing meal debt.
