North Dakota School Lunch Debt Policies Raise Concerns
In North Dakota, the law ensures that every K-12 student receives a meal at school without facing stigma. However, families unable to pay for these meals may encounter lasting consequences, occasionally leading students to forgo eating to avoid these issues.
A state survey highlighted that over 24 school districts have referred unpaid lunch debts to collection agencies, while at least one district has withheld transcripts from students with outstanding balances. Both practices are legally permissible under current state regulations.
According to state law, schools must provide meals to students upon request, even if they lack funds. The 2023 anti-lunch shaming legislation aims to prevent stigmatization for unpaid debts and bans certain punitive measures.
Michelle Wagner from the North Dakota School Nutrition Association noted, “I think the legislators had good intentions when they developed that anti-lunch shaming bill. But then there’s like no funding to help support it. So it’s really put us as districts and families in a tough situation.” Wagner, who also oversees Bismarck Public Schools’ nutrition program, mentioned Bismarck as one of the districts that use debt collection as a last resort.
Lynelle Johnson, of the Department of Public Instruction, clarified that the 2023 law did not prohibit the practice, citing it as a final recourse. Debt collection can adversely impact credit scores, as emphasized by Lise Kruse of the Department of Financial Institutions: “That will stay on because it shows your history on your ability to pay your debt.”
By the 2025-26 school year, student meal debt in North Dakota had reached approximately $2 million. Additional funds from donations and district budgets partially mitigated the debt.
Sen. Scott Meyer expressed support for district-level decisions regarding unpaid meal penalties, suggesting that without such measures, taxpayers might bear the costs.
Transcript Withholding Practices
Beyond debt collection, some districts, like Elgin New Leipzig, withhold transcripts for unpaid meal debts. Superintendent Sherlock Hirning explained, “When they request a transcript, we won’t release one if they have an outstanding bill from lunch, and that usually gets people’s attention enough that they take care of it.” This practice, though compliant with state laws, raises concerns about potential long-term effects on students.
Surveys indicated a few districts might use such strategies, though specifics were sparse. Garrison Public Schools Superintendent Nick Klemisch clarified that although their survey response suggested transcript withholding, it was likely erroneous.
Stigma and Access to School Meals
Despite legal guarantees, some students may skip meals to avoid accruing debt, as Lynelle Johnson noted. Students often avoid the lunch line to prevent debt accumulation, despite being eligible for meals.
Sen. Meyer emphasized the necessity of addressing funding issues linked to the 2023 law, which mandates meal provision without sufficient financial backing.
Programs like the Community Eligibility Provision offer free meals to all students in qualifying schools, positively impacting student performance and wellness. Wagner and others have observed notable improvements in academic effort and reduced health complaints in schools participating in such programs.
Sen. Paul Thomas highlighted the importance of addressing food insecurity at home, noting the prevalence of students arriving at school hungry after weekends.
Potential Policy Changes
A coalition is advocating for a constitutional amendment to ensure free meals for all K-12 students, with state reimbursements for schools. However, some lawmakers, including Sen. Chuck Walen, favor legislative solutions over constitutional changes.
Walen criticized debt collection and transcript withholding for meal debts and supports enhanced anti-shaming laws.
If the amendment fails, Walen plans legislation to annually clear meal debts at the state’s expense, a solution echoed by Sen. Thomas.
Thomas’s proposed 2027 legislation aims to enhance school meal quality and accessibility, potentially including larger portions and more nutritious options.
