California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed legislation that will require California public schools serving students in grades 6-12 to stock free menstrual products in women’s bathrooms, all-gender bathrooms, and at least one men’s bathroom.
According to TheBlaze“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,” the legislation states.
According to the legislation: “What we’re doing here in California is unprecedented in nature and scale, but it all comes back to providing California’s students with the best opportunities to learn, achieve, and succeed,” said Governor Newsom.
“We’re implementing the historic, transformative measures needed to help support our students’ health and wellbeing, bridge the digital divide with improved access to broadband, and expand educational opportunities for future generations.”
“I am thankful and thrilled that there are bills, and now law, that will drive more resources and supports to student mental health and help close the digital divide, both of which are major priorities of mine,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.
“Helping our students rebound from the emotional toll of COVID-19 and develop the social-emotional learning needed to thrive and grow will take a concerted focus on mental health supports at our schools.
I thank both Governor Newsom and the Legislature for their work to bring these much-needed resources to our campuses,” said State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond. “I also want to applaud the attention given to connectivity – key to a 21st-century education. My hope is that future improvements to broadband will push our educational system to further integrate technology into everyday student learning.”
