Legal Services State Support

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is pleased with the statement of Attorney General Keith Ellison that all students have equal access to meals. Their students have some lunch money. After learning that some public schools in Minnesota and districts have adopted a policy that forbids students from eating school meals on the MDE’s schedule, Commissioner Heather Mueller sought the AG’s view for clarification. Instead, students with outstanding meal balances receive what is called an “alternate dinner” by their school or district. After reaching out to more than 330 Minnesota school districts, LSAP asked MDE to seek the Attorney General's opinion. LSAP learned that 124 policies violated the Minnesota law prohibiting lunch shaming, which took effect in July 2021. LSAP and Hunger Solutions MN collaborated closely to help the legislature pass this law.