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2022 Op. Minn. Att'y Gen. 1 (2022)

handle is hein.sag/sagmn0090 and id is 1 raw text is: SCHOOL PUPILS: EXCLUSION: FEES: Minnesota law prohibits schools or districts participating in the federal school lunch program from providing an alternate meal not on the scheduled menu to students with unpaid meal debt. 169i (cr.ref. 169x) The Office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison helping people afford their lives and live with dignity and respect - www.ag.state.mn.us November 17, 2022 Heather Mueller, Ed. D. Commissioner Minnesota Department of Education 400 NE Stinson Boulevard Minneapolis, MN 55412 Re: Opinion Request - Alternate Lunches for Student Meal Debt Dear Commissioner: Thank you for your correspondence requesting an opinion from this Office pursuant to Minnesota Statutes §§ 8.07 and 120A.10. You request an interpretation of Minnesota law related to school menus. Specifically, you ask whether a policy of providing a meal that differs from the scheduled menu to students with unpaid meal balances violates Minnesota laws that prohibit differential treatment, lunch shaming or otherwise ostracizing the student for unpaid meal balances. In my opinion, providing an alternate meal based on meal debt violates Minnesota law. BACKGROUND You indicate that a number of public schools or districts across the state have adopted policies whereby students with unpaid meal balances are denied lunch items from the scheduled menu for the day. Students with unpaid meal balances are provided instead with what schools and districts refer to as an alternate meal, a minimum meal, or a courtesy meal. For example, one district's policy states that students with an overdrawn account will be offered an alternate meal consisting of a cheese sandwich, piece of fruit and milk. Another district policy states that until the negative balance is paid students will receive a minimum meal consisting of a peanut butter or jelly sandwich and milk. Some school policies simply indicate the alternate meal will meet federal and state requirements. 445 Minnesota Street, Suite 1400, St. Paul, MN 55101-2131 Office: (651) 296-3353 - Toll Free: (800) 657-3787 - Minnesota Relay: (800) 627-3529 An Equal Opportunity Employer Who Values Diversity

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