Ohio Schools to Receive $5 Million for Free Period Products

Thanks in part to ISSA and its Period Partners, the State of Ohio is allocating US$5 million in the 2024 state budget for free period products in Ohio schools, grades 6–12, during the 2023–2024 school year.

Schools in the state will receive $2 million for period-product dispensers and $3 million for the products themselves—making the funding total $5 million. The Ohio Department of Education is developing a relevant application process and plans to disburse dispenser-specific funds to schools before October 2023.

This recent budget allocation makes Ohio the seventh state to designate funds to put period products in schools. Arizona also allocated similar funds during its most recent legislative session. ISSA worked with its Period Partners and member companies to help achieve these new funds as part of the association’s End Period Poverty campaign.

“ISSA thanks Ohio legislators and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine for providing this much-needed funding to increase access to menstrual-care products and disposal solutions for Ohio students,” said ISSA Director of Government Affairs John Nothdurft. “ISSA believes menstrual-care solutions should be as available in away-from-home bathrooms as soap, toilet paper, and paper towels. Accordingly, we, along with our Period Partners and other member companies, look forward to working with the Ohio Department of Education to implement this vital allocation.”

For questions about ISSA’s campaign to End Period Poverty and ISSA Advocacy, please contact John Nothdurft.