As school lunch debt climbs in Kansas, some students whose families can't afford to pay are shamed

Editor's note: This segment was rebroadcast on Nov. 18, 2024. Click here for that audio.

The federal government pays for free lunches for students from low-income families in public schools. But for families who don't qualify, paying for lunch can be a struggle.

Suzanne Perez of Kansas News Service reports that some districts give all students lunch, regardless of ability to pay, while other districts punish students with lunch debts.