My students live in Los Angeles, CA. My students are in the magnet program at the school, which means that they were identified as gifted at an early age. This also means that my students can come to this school from all over the city. They use public transportation or catch a bus from central locations around the city, so they work hard just to get to class!
Because we have students from all over Los Angeles, there is visible economic disparity between students at the school.
About 2/3 of my students qualify for free or reduced lunch and struggle to afford pencils and notebooks. Others have their own calculators and computers. I want all students in my classes to be able to learn no matter what kind of jobs their families do or how much money they have at home.
My Project
About two months ago, one of my students asked me for a pad, and I didn't have one with me at the time. I asked her if she could just get one from the school nurse, and I found out that our school charges students for menstrual products. The student went on a wild goose chase around the school trying to subtly ask her friends for a sanitary pad or tampon, missing about 30 minutes of class. She was embarrassed and anxious when she returned to class and couldn't focus at all when she got back.
No student should have to miss class because they start their period and don't have access to sanitary products.
I wish I wasn't writing this in 2018 in a school that receives Title 1 funding for our majority low income student population, but I am. We need a place where any student, at any time during the school day, can get the menstrual products that she needs so that she does not have to feel stressed or miss class time. I want to create a menstruation station in my lab supply room so that students can confidentially obtain the sanitary supplies that they need.
Please help all of our menstruating teens obtain the supplies they need to get through the day. This will help us create a healthy learning environment for all of our students. Thank you for your donations!
More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Bare and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
