{NO PAD? NO PROBLEM}
FREE ACCESSIBLE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS NOW IN A SCHOOL NEAR YOU
On August 23, 2023, Governor Murphy signed legislation (P.L.2023, c.147) requiring school districts to provide menstrual products free of charge in every public school teaching students in one or more of the grades six through 12.
Overview of P.L. 2023, c. 147
The law requires that, beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, districts shall ensure that students in each school educating students in grades six through 12, or any combination thereof, have direct access to free menstrual products in at least 50 percent of female and gender-neutral school bathrooms, if applicable. Costs incurred by a district in providing an adequate supply of menstrual products to ensure the needs of students are met shall be borne by the State.
The Governor’s Fiscal Year 2025 State Budget includes $3.5 million to reimburse school districts to implement this law.
Guidance for distribution of funds
On May 8, the New Jersey Department of Education issued initial regs for how the Menstrual Products School Reimbursement Program will work. That guidance can be found here. It is important to note that there is no per student rule.
Reimbursement Process
The Application for Menstrual Product Reimbursement is now available through the New Jersey Department of Education’s Homeroom webpage. Applications will be accepted through May 1, 2025. Districts are asked to submit one reimbursement request for their total expenditures incurred for this program during the time period covering the 2024-2025 school year. Once a district submits a completed application and required documentation showing the amount of expenditures, the Department will review and approve eligible reimbursements.
BILL PASSES TO REQUIRE FREELY ACCESSIBLE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS IN NEW JERSEY SCHOOLS
Read the official press release here which includes quotes from five of our coalition members. Video of the signing can be viewed below and photos that we took are here. More can be found here on the Governor's Flickr site. The youth that we worked with are featured in this video tweeted today from the Governor's official account
WHY WE NEED IT. Research shows that students who lack access to menstrual products experience higher rates of absenteeism and are less able to focus in the classroom. New Jersey’s best-in-the-nation education system funds all essential items needed for students to be successful in school—now menstrual products will be included on the list. The provision of menstrual products will help ensure New Jersey provides equal access to education and enables its students to reach their full potential, irrespective of gender.