United States

'Sandwich of Shame': School Policy Calls Out Students Carrying Lunch Debt

An Indiana high school has been drawing attention for serving what some have called "sandwiches of shame" to students who have debts on their lunch accounts.

A student posted a photo of a cheese-and-bread sandwich served to a classmate in front of her in the cafeteria line.

"The lunch lady said, 'You owe $25.60. You have to have this alternative lunch,'" Kokomo High School senior Sierra Feitl told TODAY.

The effort is part of a policy enacted to encourage families to pay off their debt. The school notified families about the change at the end of last year but only recently began to enforce it.

The district says total credit on lunch accounts have put the school in $50,000 in debt, putting it at risk for losing federal funding. 

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