This page provides essential special program resources and documents for school leaders managing building facilities. Explore guides, policies, and tools related to special school facilities initiatives, including maintenance, improvement projects, health and safety, and compliance requirements. Empower your school community with the information needed to maintain safe, functional, and inspiring learning environments.
Menstrual Product Availability
Per State and local law, the DOE is required to provide free menstrual products for students in grades 6–12, which the DOE makes available in female restrooms and single occupancy restrooms. However, as some students (including cisgender girls, and transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive students) may menstruate earlier than grade 6, the DOE expanded the availability of menstrual products to schools with grades 4 and 5 during the 2023-24 school year. At least one restroom (either female or single occupancy) will be equipped with one dispenser in schools that include these grades.
Please note that products should only be available at designated restroom locations and not in the nurse’s office. Menstrual products need to be readily available in school restrooms without students having to request them from school staff. Custodial staff will routinely monitor the availability of products in the dispensers and reorder supplies as needed.
Additionally, to ensure students know that free menstrual products are available and where they can access them, please print and prominently post the posters below, available in all 10 NYCPS languages.
Please note: the first poster in each language is for schools with grades 4 and 5. The second poster is for schools with grades 6-12.
The following resources are available to help your school communicate with students and families:
· Know Your Period: The NYC Student Guide provides students with valuable information on menstruation and reminds them that free products are available in designated restrooms at schools. The link and a QR code to access this resource are on the posters.
· To support communication with families, refer to Parents and Puberty: Helping Families Communicate about Developmental Milestones. Please share these links with your school nurse and other relevant staff.
For questions regarding the installation of dispensers and availability of products, contact your custodian engineer or your building’s deputy director of facilities. For questions about health education, including lessons on menstruation for grades 4–5, contact your Office of School Wellness Programs borough support team.