# What the PERIOD Act Actually Does

The PERIOD Act (which stands for "Privacy in Education Regarding Individuals' Own Data Act") is a straightforward bill that would cut off federal funding to schools that require students to share information about their menstrual cycles. If a school—whether it's a public elementary school, high school, college, or university—makes it mandatory for students to report details about their periods, that school would lose access to federal money. This applies to any school that receives federal funding, from K-12 public schools to colleges and universities.

The bill is essentially a privacy protection measure. It says that schools cannot force students to disclose personal health information about their menstrual cycles as a condition of attending or participating in school activities. The consequence for violating this rule is significant: losing federal funding, which most schools depend on heavily. This creates a strong incentive for schools to respect student privacy on this sensitive health matter. The bill doesn't ban schools from offering voluntary health tracking programs or educational resources about menstruation—it only prevents schools from making such disclosures mandatory.

In practical terms, this would protect students from being forced to share intimate health details with their schools. It recognizes that menstrual information is personal medical data that students should control themselves, rather than something schools can demand. For most schools, this likely won't change much since requiring students to report their periods isn't a common practice. However, for any school that does have such a requirement—perhaps as part of a health tracking system or athletic program—they would need to make it voluntary or face losing federal education dollars.

PERIOD Act

Schiff, Adam B.

Privacy in Education Regarding Individuals' Own Data Act or the PERIOD Act This bill prohibits an educational institution from receiving federal funds if the institution requires any student to provide information regarding the student's menstrual cycle. Educational institution refers to a local educational agency, state educational agency, elementary school, secondary school, or institution of higher education.