IN HCR0003

Urges the legislative council to assign a committee to study reducing overt identification of free and reduced price lunch students through alternate charge and meal policies of local education agencies.

Defines overt identification as any action that may result in a child being recognized as eligible to receive or certified for free or reduced price school meals.

Notes that students often skip meals rather than be identified by peers as receiving free or reduced price lunch benefits, despite prohibition of such identification under state and federal law.

References the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act requirement for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to examine charge and meal policies and the resulting 2017 best practice guide "Overcoming the Unpaid Meal Challenge: Proven Strategies from Our Nation's Schools."

Seeks state-level analysis to further reduce overt identification, increase utilization of free and reduced price meal benefits, and improve health and academic performance of Indiana students.