Imagine the embarrassment and anxiety a young girl feels when she bleeds through her clothing because she doesn't have enough time to change her menstrual product between classes. 

Imagine a boy or girl that needs to use the restroom and can't use it between classes - because they have been locked.  What are they supposed to do - urinate in the hallway?   

In Prince William County, this is exactly what is happening.  The current policies surrounding restroom access are not only causing discomfort but are also jeopardizing the health and dignity of our students.  We are approaching a crisis in teaching them it is not necessary to need to excrete your bodily fluids regularly - and for girls perhaps silently telling them that while on their period they should stay home since we won't give them time to change their pad/tampon.     

The school already uses an app where teachers and staff can track your requests for restroom usage, seemingly they can track girls on their period - since the data has an indefinite records retention.  Yet even with that ability to see 'who is abusing the restroom breaks'  - they're still denying access for students that rarely (if ever!) even ask to use the restroom. 

Some teachers even have policies 'no more than 3 restroom requests per student per quarter' or 'no more than 3 students can go to the restroom during class' (so if 3 other classmates also needed to use the restroom and you weren't one of the first 3, you're out of luck!).  You also can't request to use the restroom during the first 10 minutes of class, or the last 10 minutes of class.  Time between classes is 2 minutes (120 seconds - assuming the teacher dismisses you on time) - and even with that short time, the restrooms are very often LOCKED so they can't be used. 

"Wait until lunch!" my student was told the first time she asked to use the restroom (3 months into the school year) - with 100% perfect attendance.   She tried to explain to the teacher the restrooms in the cafeteria are locked at lunch.  There wasn't time to go before class because the commute from one floor to another didn't give time to stop.  Couldn't go in the last class because you can't ask during instruction, and you also can't ask in the first or last 10 minutes, so there wasn't a time.   It had been 3 hours since the last restroom use (which was between classes that were on the same floor).  The teacher said don't bother me anymore with this - go away go away.. QUIT asking me!   A friend told the teacher we can't wait until lunch, the bathrooms are locked at lunch!   The teacher didn't care/didn't believe them - denied the request.  This was the first request she ever even made the whole school year.  

As it turns out, my student isn't the only one to be told this - this is a problem across the entire county!  Multiple students report that the cafeteria restrooms are locked during lunch period.  They aren't allowed to leave the cafeteria to go to another one somewhere else.  The bathrooms are regularly locked between changes of classes or you must go to another out of the way location to find one and then they'll be late for class. 

For female students, the problem escalates when they are marked tardy if they take the necessary time to manage their menstrual hygiene.  ALL adults know (or should know) girls at this age are having menses.  The expectation for them to request permission during class to use the bathroom (a personal health need) is both embarrassing and unnecessary.

These policies ignore the basic realities of menstruation and place an undue burden on young girls who are attempting to handle their health needs discreetly and responsibly.  These young girls WANT an education and are doing their best navigating these arbitrary rules set up by their school leadership or the PWC School Board.

We propose that Prince William County schools enact the following policies:

1) Establish policies that prohibit locking restrooms during school hours, except in grave emergencies, with a standard definition of what constitutes an "emergency".   Toilet paper on the floor, graffiti, does not constitute an emergency for closure.  When locked, ensure immediate notice is sent to students identifying how long closure will be and the next nearest restroom to use.  Parents, and teachers  will receive an email in these rare cases identifying the issue as well. 

2) Establish policies that prohibit penalizing female students for tardiness when it is as a result of attending to menstrual needs.   Establish policies that prohibit female students from needing to disclose their menstrual cycles or needs (e.g. they don't need to say "I need to change my pad!") in order to receive permission from a teacher to use the restroom. 

Such changes will help foster a more compassionate, supportive, and understanding environment for all students. Let's end the unsanitary practices that lead to embarrassment and anxiety. It's time to bring about accountability and provide students the respect and access they deserve.

By signing this petition, you are standing up for the health, dignity, and well-being of all students in Prince William County. Let's ensure our schools are safe and accommodating spaces for everyone. Please support this cause for the improvement of our children's educational environment.