The Policy Project is a nonprofit (501c3), non-partisan organization that promotes solution-based policies to remove barriers to opportunity. The organization is working to end period poverty as part of the Utah Period Project.
Through a partnership with the Utah Legislature and private donors, the Utah Period Project led the effort to pass House Bill 162!
What is HB 162?
The Policy Project proposed House Bill 162 “Period Products in School,” which was passed unanimously by the Utah Legislature in March 2022 and signed into law by Gov. Spencer Cox. The law requires all K-12 public and charter schools in Utah to provide access to free period products in every girls’ and all-gender bathroom.
The intent of HB 162 is to decrease period poverty in Utah by:
- Raising educational outcomes across the state for menstruating students by increasing productivity and school attendance
- Destigmatizing menstruation by normalizing access to period products
The Impact of HB 162
Because of the work done by The Policy Project, access to free period products is now required by law. Over 337,000 menstruating students in Utah returned to school in the fall of 2023 with access to Aunt Flow in bathrooms. By 2065, the law is estimated to help more than 1.3 million students across the state.
Period Program Implementation
HB 162 went into effect on July 1st, 2022, and the dispensers were installed during the first months of the 2022-23 school year.
Aunt Flow dispensers and organic cotton period products are stocked in over 6,800 school bathrooms across Utah! By the end of 2023, 1,058 schools in Utah had period products available.
Data from 2023 suggests that the majority of Utah school districts installed Aunt Flow dispensers stocked with organic cotton period care. This means that, in just two years, most Utah students now have access to free period products in bathrooms at school.
Our students love it. They love the quality of the product! It’s really nice, organic and very easy to use. I would say every school needs to have something easily, readily available for students.
Jennifer Christensen, Principal of Olympus High School
Survey Results
18 months after implementation, the Utah Policy Project conducted an impact report to assess the two following questions:
- Has access to free period products increased girls’ school attendance and activity participation?
- Has access to free period products affected the dialogue and stigma around periods for adolescent girls and their peers?
The target research population was menstruating students attending public or charter schools in Utah. The corresponding representative population researched was adolescent girls (ages 15-18) attending Utah high schools and participating in a sport or club.
Product Usage
Survey data shows that 58% of Utah menstruating students regularly use the Aunt Flow period products provided to them in their school bathrooms.
As for the remaining 42% of menstruating students, they may:
- Bring their own products to school
- Not have their period
- Use alternative products, like a cup, disc or period underwear
Overall, the research points to a strong correlation between access to period products increasing school attendance and reducing period stigma.
Attendance and Participation
Prior to the passage of the law, over 54% of students reported missing school or school activities due to a lack of access to period products. 56% of respondents reported being able to attend school and extracurricular activities they would have previously missed due to new access to period products in school bathrooms from HB 162.
Period products in the bathrooms have been so helpful. I haven’t had to miss any important exams or classes because of my period.
Student respondent
Having access to free period products has allowed many girls to feel confident they will be able to have the things they need.
School Office Staff
Accessibility
88% of respondents shared gratitude for having access to period products, thanks to the Aunt Flow dispensers. A number of these respondents went on to say that the convenience and easy accessibility of the period products in the bathrooms were highly appreciated, especially compared to schools that don’t offer them or require students to go to the office. Many students expressed gratitude and relief knowing products are available at school.
40% of the respondents stated that they use the Aunt Flow period products for emergencies. A recurring theme mentioned by school staff was the benefit of having period products for unexpected needs or emergencies, such as forgetting to bring personal products or the unexpected onset of ones period. As a result, students are less likely to leave school when the sudden need arises for a period product.
16% of respondents shared that they were able to attend and participate more fully in school and other activities. Many comments highlighted the importance of ensuring students can fully participate in their educational and extracurricular activities.
Period Stigma
From the three survey questions relating to the stigma around menstruation, 76% of the respondents feel like their comfort level around menstruation discussions has increased over the first 18 months since the implementation of Aunt Flow dispensers in the school bathrooms.
40% reported that their comfort level has increased due to period product accessibility at school. When asked whether access to period products at school has promoted conversations about menstruation, 41% responded with “Yes, in a positive way.”
Additional Impact
Outside of having access to period products in school bathrooms, there are holiday breaks and weekends to account for. To ensure lower-income students have access to period care at home, we set up the following model as part of our impact partnership with Utah: For every 10 Aunt Flow period products purchased by Utah schools, 1 is donated to The Policy Project.
As part of this, The Policy Project hosts semi-annual period packing parties around the state where students and advocates assemble take-home period kits for students in need. Aunt Flow has donated over 700,000 period products since 2022!
