A new Texas proposal could allow students to take up to 10 excused absences per year for menstrual disorders like endometriosis or PCOS. House Bill 161, introduced by state Rep. Donna Howard, would protect students from being penalized for missing school due to severe period pain—an issue advocates say disproportionately impacts young people with limited health care access.
Supporters of the bill, which does require a doctor’s note, say it’s a small but crucial step toward reproductive dignity in Texas classrooms, where students like Anya, a tenth grader, often miss class or push through debilitating pain in silence. With additional bills pushing for free menstrual products and stronger health education, advocates hope HB 161 signals a cultural shift around how schools treat menstrual health.
✏️: Jessica F. Simmons
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