Free period products still not in every restroom six months after the issue was raised

What happened

Rhode Island law RIGL 16-21-38 requires free menstrual products in school restrooms. The committee first discussed the district's compliance in December 2025. On June 2, 2026 a member asked why it had taken six months; the superintendent said concerns had been raised about elementary-aged students playing with the products, that products had been kept at nurses' offices, that some dispensers were still on order and that the district was close to having all restrooms stocked.

Why it matters to families

A student who cannot get a product when she needs one may miss class. The law says it should be in the restroom, not only at the nurse's office.

The evidence

The June 2, 2026 approved minutes record the discussion of RIGL 16-21-38, the question about the six-month delay, and the superintendent's explanation that dispensers were still awaited and restrooms were close to fully stocked.

The source