Harrisburg, PA – The Departments of Health and Education today announced that $3 million allocated in the 2025/26 budget will be distributed to more than 750 Pennsylvania school districts, intermediate units, career and technical centers, and brick-and-mortar charter schools to continue providing free period products to their students.
Building on historic, first-time investments of $3 million over each of the past two years, Governor Shapiro’s budget proposal for 2026/27 includes another $3 million to help schools provide free period products for young women.
“Period products are a basic hygiene necessity for students — yet there are too many young girls across the Commonwealth who go to school worrying about whether they’ll have access to pads or tampons during the school day,” said First Lady of Pennsylvania Lori Shapiro. “I am proud that this Administration continues to put Pennsylvania students at the forefront of our work by yet again ensuring that girls have reliable access to pads and tampons when they need them.”
The funding enables schools to provide students with access to period products at no cost, in line with efforts by the Shapiro Administration to improve health equity.
“Free period products in Pennsylvania schools help ensure that more than 650,000 girls have peace of mind — so they can focus on their education,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen. “This is just the latest example of how the Shapiro Administration is ensuring students are prepared to learn without distractions or struggle. We have heard firsthand just how essential this program has become over the last two years, and I am proud Governor Shapiro continues to support its mission.”
This program has become a vital source of funding for schools in every corner of the Commonwealth, taking one more burden off students’ plates and ensuring they are focused on learning.
“For many students, worrying about access to period products is a quiet but very real barrier to learning,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe. “Access to free period products in schools helps ensure that students do not miss class, leave school early, or carry unnecessary stress over something that should never stand in the way of their education.”
“So many of my students have reached out to tell me how much having free supplies readily available for them at school in convenient locations has helped them,” said Laura Fields, CSN, a high school nurse in Butler County. “Several students who have difficulty getting supplies at home have also spoken to me about how this has helped them personally. At the beginning of this school year, I conducted a Google Survey with students to see what improvements could be made. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Being able to hear from my students how much they appreciate this is amazing.”
Applications and reimbursement requests will not be required. All qualifying school entities will receive funding proportional to the total number of students enrolled at a rate of $1.79 per student.
Schools may use the funding for period product purchases made between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.
School funding allocations for the 2025-26 Feminine Hygiene Product Grant Program’s non-competitive, non-solicitation grants are available on the Pennsylvania Department of Health website. Schools can opt out of receiving grant funding. Any remaining funds following the first round of grant funding will be dispersed in a second round.
Schools should consider privacy, responsiveness, access, and education when developing and implementing strategies to make period products available to their students. Additional guidance and suggestions are available in the Menstrual Equity for Pennsylvania Students – Guidance for School Entities.
More information on how the 2026-27 budget helps build a stronger, safer Pennsylvania is available online here.
# # #