Feminine Hygiene Products
Effective July 1, 2018, all elementary and secondary public schools in New York State that serve students in any grade from six to twelve will be required to provide feminine hygiene products to students in school restrooms, at no cost (April 26, 2018)
Feminine Hygiene Products in Schools FAQs
Cost
Q: What funding will be available to schools to support this new law?
A: The law did not include funding. Schools are responsible for the cost of products. Products must be provided at no cost to the students.
Products
Q: What type of feminine hygiene products should be purchased?
A: It is a local decision on the product type purchased. It is recommended that generic products are provided that are both less expensive, and less likely to be taken unless a student needs to use one.
Placement / Access
Q: Where should the feminine hygiene products be placed?
A: Feminine Hygiene products must be kept in restrooms used by students, including gender-neutral bathrooms. Locating the products only in the health office is not acceptable.
Q: How should feminine hygiene products be dispensed?
A: The products may be placed in dispensing machines or in a box or basket as long as they can be accessed for free.
Q: In a K-6 building where do products need to be kept?
A: Wherever a 6th grader can access. If 6th grade uses a designated restroom, then that’s where they need to be kept. If K-6 all use general restrooms, then all general restrooms need to have products available in them.
Non-Public Schools
Q: Why were the Principals of Nonpublic Schools not included in the recipients to receive the memo on feminine hygiene products in schools?
A: Nonpublic schools did not receive the memo since the law does not apply to them.
Page Updated 3/29/22
