Families in Pine Springs may want to follow a Minnesota proposal requiring public and charter schools to provide free menstrual products in student restrooms used by grades 4 through 12.
According to Alpha News, the bill says school districts and charter schools must give students no-cost access to menstrual products in restrooms used by students in grades 4 through 12.
An amendment from Rep. Dean Urdahl would have added the word “female” to the restroom requirement. Urdahl described the proposal as a matter of practicality; the committee did not adopt it.
Sponsor Sandra Feist argued that adding “female” could quickly become outdated as schools adopt gender-neutral facilities. She also maintained that students who are not female may menstruate and should have access without asking staff for products.
Funding would come through a proposed $2-per-student increase in school operating-capital revenue, according to Feist. She said students sometimes miss class when products are unavailable.
The proposal now gives Pine Springs residents another education-policy issue to watch as the legislative session continues.
Article Source: Alpha News: “DFL legislators want menstrual products in boys’ bathrooms”
