Resources for Menstrual Equity in Schools

Assembly Bill 367 requires California public schools to provide free pads and tampons in campus bathrooms

Families have been hit hard by the pandemic and many are lacking resources to meet their basic needs. Providing free tampons and pads in school bathrooms is not just a state mandate, it’s as essential for menstruating students as providing free meals to all students. Similar to how toilet paper and paper towels are available in school bathrooms, now so will menstrual products.

What’s the Requirement for Schools?

On or before the start of the 2022-23 school year, Assembly Bill 367 requires a public school, including a school operated by a school district, county office of education, or charter school, maintaining any combination of classes from grades 6 to 12, inclusive, to stock at all times an adequate supply of menstrual products, available and accessible, free of cost, in all women’s restrooms and all-gender restrooms, and in at least one men’s restroom.

There also needs to be a notice posted about the requirements of the bill section related to grade 6-12 schools in a prominent and conspicuous location in every restroom required to stock menstrual products. View these template flyers designed by SDCOE.

What Must Be Included in the Notice?

Contact information

The notice must include an email address and phone number for the person responsible for maintaining the supply of pads and tampons.

Legal language

The notice must also include the language included in the section below:

SEC. 3. Section 35292.6 is added to the Education Code, to read: 35292.6. (a) On or before the start of the 2022-23 school year, a public school, including a school operated by a school district, county office of education, or charter school, maintaining any combination of classes from grades 6 to 12, inclusive, shall stock the school’s restrooms at all times with an adequate supply of menstrual products, available and accessible, free of cost, in all women’s restrooms and all-gender restrooms, and in at least one men’s restroom. (b) A public school described in subdivision (a) shall not charge for any menstrual products provided to pupils. (c) A public school described in subdivision (a) shall post a notice regarding the requirements of this section in a prominent and conspicuous location in every restroom required to stock menstrual products, available and accessible, free of cost, pursuant to this section. This notice shall include the text of this section and contact information, including an email address and telephone number, for a designated individual responsible for maintaining the requisite supply of menstrual products. (d) For purposes of this section, “menstrual products” means menstrual pads and tampons for use in connection with the menstrual cycle. (e) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2022.

Use an SDCOE Template for Notices

Templates Available

Simple language notice designed for younger students 

• Color version (PDF)
• Black and white version (PDF)
• Spanish color version (PDF)
• Spanish black and white version (PDF)

Formal language notice designed for older students and adults

• Color version (PDF)
• Black and white version (PDF)
• Spanish color version (PDF)
• Spanish black and white version (PDF)

How to Use

Option 1: Download and print

• Once printed, write in contact information for the person responsible for maintaining supplies of pads and tampons.

Option 2: Download and personalize 

• Open the PDF file using a design program and type in the contact information for the person responsible for maintaining supplies of pads and tampons. There’s also space to add a school or district logo.

Then: Post in all women’s restrooms and all-gender restrooms and in at least one men’s restroom at an accessible height and easy-to-see location.  

Tips to Create your Own Notice

• Use clear language such as pads or tampons; avoid terms such as “feminine products” or “sanitary napkins”
• Use gender-neutral language such as “people who menstruate” or “students who menstruate”
• Post in every restroom in a prominent location
• Include contact information for the person in charge of keeping products stocked
• Use age-appropriate language
• Use friendly, age-appropriate colors; it doesn’t need red or pink colors
• Post at an accessible height
• Post in other languages needed for your school community including Braille

Additional Resources for Menstrual Equity

• Amaze has age-appropriate information for teens and tweens, including videos on what happens when you get your period and how to use a pad or tampon.
• The Oregon Menstrual Dignity for Students toolkit has comprehensive resources for educators on menstrual equity.

 

Contact SDCOE School Nursing Coordinator Corinne McCarthy for questions.