A California school district has announced that menstrual products will now be available in restrooms for students in grades 3 through 12, including at least one boys’ restroom per school. This expansion follows the state’s updated “Menstrual Equality for All Act,” which previously applied only to grades 6-12 but now includes younger students.
Long Beach Unified School District informed parents via email that dispensers are being installed across campuses. The district stated that the policy ensures access to necessary products for “any student who menstruates,” including transgender boys and nonbinary students. The message emphasized the district’s goal of “reducing barriers to learning and fostering a supportive environment for all students.”
Under the 2023 state law, all public schools teaching grades 3-12 must provide free period products in girls’ restrooms, gender-neutral restrooms, and at least one boys’ restroom per school. Schools must maintain an adequate supply of these products by the 2024-25 school year.
California first enacted menstrual product requirements in 2021, initially mandating that grades 6-12 offer them in both girls’ and boys’ restrooms. The latest expansion includes elementary students as young as third grade.
Critics argue that placing menstrual products in boys’ restrooms creates confusion and undermines biological realities, while supporters claim it promotes equity and inclusion. The district’s email closed with a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) statement, thanking families for supporting an “inclusive learning environment.”
As the policy takes effect, schools across California are adjusting to meet the new legal requirements while navigating the broader cultural debate surrounding gender, education, and student needs.
