This legislation amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to enhance access to school meals and reduce stigma associated with unpaid meal fees. It mandates that local educational agencies directly certify certain students for free or reduced-price meals, shifting from a discretionary to a required practice, and ensures retroactive reimbursement for meal eligibility from the first day of the school year. The bill introduces comprehensive measures to reduce stigma for "covered children," defined as those whose households owe unpaid fees or who are eligible for free/reduced-price meals. Local educational agencies and school food authorities are explicitly prohibited from physically segregating, overtly identifying through tokens or announcements, or otherwise stigmatizing these children based on their meal status. Additionally, the legislation establishes strict rules for collecting unpaid school meal fees, forbidding communication about debt directly to the child, withholding educational opportunities, or using third-party debt collectors. If a household owes a week or more of fees, the agency must attempt direct certification or provide meal applications. It also prevents schools from disposing of or taking away food already served to a covered child due to their status, ensuring dignity in meal service.