Salt Lake City — The Policy Project’s recent survey of female high school students in Utah shows that free period products in schools positively impact students.

Through efforts led by The Policy Project, House Bill 162, “Period Products in Schools," was passed unanimously by the Utah Legislature in March 2022. The law mandates that all public and charter schools in the state provide free period products in girls’ and unisex restrooms, grades K-12. The collaborative efforts of legislators, philanthropists, community members, and student advocates ensured the successful implementation of the law.

“The Policy Project is committed not only to the passage of the bill but also to its successful implementation,” Emily Bell McCormick, Founder and President of The Policy Project said. “Thanks to the collaborative and courageous efforts of legislators, donors, and community members, the implementation of HB 162 has been both successful and comprehensive—a type of execution not seen in other states with similar legislation."

The primary goals of HB 162 were to 1) enhance educational outcomes across the state by increasing productivity and school attendance outcomes for female students and 2) destigmatize menstruation through normalized access to period products. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the bill in achieving these goals, we distributed a survey to female high school students in Utah (view survey questions here). Nearly 1,400 students from 20 of Utah’s 29 counties responded, making this the largest survey of its kind. The responses are representative of the high schools across Utah and closely align with the state’s overall demographic profile in terms of economic status and locale type (e.g., city, town, rural).

Overall, the survey responses show that HB 162 is fulfilling its primary goals, as stated above. The responses point to a strong correlation between access to period products positively affecting school attendance, with 55.7% of respondents able to participate in school or activities previously missed due to access to period products. The responses also point to a strong correlation between providing period products in schools and reducing negative menstruation stigma, with 75.8% of respondents’ comfort level in talking about menstruation having increased.

“This survey response was incredible, and the proof of concept is there,” Kristin Andrus, community champion of The Policy Project said. “Although there is still room for growth in the realm of equity and empowerment for girls, it is safe to say that providing access to period products in schools is really moving the needle."

Now two years after the passage of the bill, we are just starting to see the results. An estimated 337,000 menstruating students were impacted by HB 162 during the 2022-2023 school year, and it is estimated to help more than 1.3 million individual students by 2065.

“Policy serves as a powerful tool to effect wide-scale change, and HB 162 is a testament to the impact that thoughtful legislation can have,” Mary Catherine Perry, Director of Government Affairs at The Policy Project said. “By addressing menstrual equity, we not only enhance educational opportunities but also contribute to breaking down societal stigmas. At The Policy Project, we believe in harnessing the strength of policy to create lasting, positive change for our community."

To discuss the methodology, survey responses, and impact report, The Policy Project is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, July 17 at 12:00 MDT. All who are interested are welcome to join. Register here: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/thepolicyproject/event/periodwebinar/

About The Policy Project

The Policy Project is a 501c3 nonprofit, non-partisan organization that promotes policy solutions that remove barriers to opportunity for women, children, and those experiencing intergenerational poverty. Our unique approach fosters support for these policies through impassioned grassroots movements, fueled by public-private partnerships, education, events, rallies and extensive relationship building. Because many barriers can and should be eliminated, we have the responsibility and desire to work for healthy, equitable policy for the future of our collective children, our nation, and our world. www.thepolicyproject.org

The Policy Project’s initiatives include “The Utah Period Project,” “The Teen Center Project," and “The Safe Child Project.” The Utah Period Project aims to end period poverty and increase access to period products. Key achievements include passing a law mandating free period products in all K-12 schools in Utah, making Utah the first U.S. state to provide free period products in state-owned buildings, and launching the global “Period Positive Workplace" initiative. The Teen Center Project aims to support schools in helping the most vulnerable students graduate and prepare for successful adulthood. Significant milestones include working with the Utah Legislature and State Board of Education to enhance services in over 70 Utah high schools and securing $18 million in funding for essential resources such as food pantries, laundry facilities, and mental health support in schools. The goal of The Safe Child Project is to expand child sexual abuse prevention education for all K-6 students in Utah by strengthening Utah Code 53G-9-207 and securing funding through a public-private partnership. Additionally, we hope to end the stigma surrounding abuse by engaging families in age-appropriate conversations about child sexual abuse prevention.