With the recent approval of the Know Your Period Act, middle and high school students across California will receive comprehensive menstrual health education as part of their sex-ed curriculum beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.
Though aspects of menstrual health already exist in the sex-ed curriculum, without extensive education, misconceptions about topics like menstrual disorders and menopause inevitably develop. This law focuses on mitigating existing stigma about the menstrual cycle, specifically targeting overlooked topics about menstruation.
Due to the novelty of the law, the specific topics and curriculum that will be covered are yet to be decided. Teachers and administrators are still awaiting further guidance from district-approved programs.
“Cupertino High School and all schools in the district use what’s called Health Connected in their curriculum, and a lot of the curriculum comes from them. We are still waiting to hear what resources they have to offer for us, and then we, as school sites, can then decide how that will get integrated,” CHS Biology teacher Kenji Mitchell said.
At the district level, administrators are prepared for the struggles that could arise as a result of this new curriculum. “When there is a new law or when we have new teachers, we do some updated training, so determining whether or not we need some additional training or support for the teachers would be the main thing,” said Fremont Union High School District Associate Superintendent Trudy Gross.
Additionally, this law emphasizes improving inclusivity and relieving potential feelings of shame and self-consciousness.
“Some people have more painful cramps than others,” Mitchell said. “Some people’s cycles are more irregular. And I think it’s important for kids to know that that’s a natural thing. I think it’s important to make kids feel more at ease about themselves.”
Gross shared a similar sentiment, highlighting how this curriculum aims to eliminate feelings of shame or discomfort and normalize experiences.
“It fills in another piece of the reproductive cycle and breaks down the stigma around something that happens to girls and women every month,” said Gross.
Major concerns regarding this law are not anticipated, as the topic is widely recognized as important; however, parents still have the option to opt their child out of the program.
“There are parts of the curriculum that parents can opt students out of, but we have very, very few opt-outs; the great majority of our students participate in the program,” Gross said.
While exposure to this subject may lead to sensitivity or immaturity among students, numerous benefits will follow this education, including increased awareness and self-acceptance. Encouraging these conversations can help normalize taboo topics, reduce misinformation, and create a more inclusive environment for all students.
“I anticipate good changes from this. I think more people will feel comfortable with themselves, and I think there’ll be less stigma,” Mitchell said.
