The Arkansas members of the #FreeThePeriod coalition call on the Arkansas Legislature to mandate the provision of free menstrual products in all public middle and high school bathrooms.

Just like toilet paper and soap, pads and tampons are basic hygiene necessities. However, they are not provided in school bathrooms, creating educational barriers for students with periods. Bathrooms provide hygiene products for urination and defecation, but when a student gets their period unexpectedly during a school day, they must divert excessive time, energy, and money to prevent bleeding through their clothes.

Too many students are missing class, being forced to buy pads instead of lunch, and facing shame as they walk across campus in bloody clothing. Although some institutions provide products in select places like the nurse's office, campus pantry, or health center, students must spend educational time to reach these locations. Products must be provided in bathrooms to be accessible in urgent situations. No one expects students to bring their own soap to school or run to ask the nurse’s office every time they need toilet paper.

In Arkansas, where more than 1 in 4 children experiences poverty, many menstruators under the age of 18 struggle to purchase period products [1]. Not being able to maintain their menstrual hygiene, many students miss up to 20 percent of school days each year due to period poverty [2]. For instance, in the U.S., 1 in 5 menstruating students miss school due to a lack of access to menstrual products [3]. Half of Arkansas’ student population currently menstruates or will menstruate in the future, yet access to period products at public schools is limited and insufficient.

Providing free menstrual products could reduce costs in the many schools that have coin-operated pad and tampon dispensers. Additionally, the state of New York mandated free period products in all public schools with an additional cost of $29 per pupil [4]. Arkansas currently ranks 34th in the country for per-pupil spending. If Arkansas were to increase per pupil spending an additional $29, this would show that Arkansas cares about its students, their health, and their ability to show up fully to take advantage of their education.

The urgent need for free, accessible period products on school campuses is clear. Over half of Arkansas’ student population face everyday barriers that non-menstruators do not face, including missed class, financial issues, and public shame. Join #FreeThePeriod in calling for free menstrual products in public middle school and high school bathrooms to ensure equal access to education!