Students, advocates urge Desert Sands to expand Menstrual Equity law compliance to all high schools

At the May 20, 2025, meeting of the Desert Sands Unified School District Board of Education, students and community advocates urged the district to ensure all high schools comply with California's Menstrual Equity for All Act before the 2025'26 school year.

Several students described local gaps and praised Palm Desert High School for responding after students raised concerns. "After meeting with principal Saig earlier this year and expressing our concerns, we saw real action towards implementing the Menstrual Equity for All Act," student speaker Ifrah Ayub said, asking the board to "support the other six high schools in the district in being fully compliant." Chloe Lowell, an organizer with Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest, told trustees that studies show lack of access is associated with missed class time and that offering products increases attendance.

Speakers stressed equity concerns. "Period poverty is more prevalent among Black and Latinx students," Lowell said, and urged the district to take the same steps PDHS took. Multiple online and written commenters read into the record echoed those requests and described the law's requirements: free products in all women's restrooms and all-gender restrooms, and in at least one men's restroom, plus visible contact information for restock requests.

Board procedure and public-comment rules were also noted: the board clerk read the district's public-comment bylaw and said speakers were limited to three minutes. Several community members who submitted written comments asked the board to ensure the district meets the statute's standards by the next school year.

A board member noted that district staff had already begun taking steps after learning of concerns. "When we learned that there were some concerns about that, we already started moving, before the board meeting," the board member said. No formal board action was taken during the meeting; speakers requested districtwide implementation and a 2025'26 deadline.

Why it matters: The statewide Menstrual Equity for All Act requires K—2 schools to provide free menstrual products in specified restrooms. Advocates said district implementation affects daily attendance, dignity and classroom participation, and that a consistent district policy would prevent unequal access depending on which campus a student attends.

What attendees asked for: Students and community members asked the board to (1) confirm that all high schools will provide continuous supplies of pads and tampons in required restrooms, (2) post clear signage with a contact for restocking, and (3) meet the standard by the 2025'26 school year.

Next steps: No formal vote or resolution was recorded. Board discussion indicated administrative staff had begun site-level work; several public commenters asked the board to accelerate and formalize a districtwide plan. The district will need to confirm a timeline and a district point of contact for reporting compliance.