Michigan school faces backlash over menstrual cycle disclosure policy

The syllabus states that students will not be allowed to simply sit out and must complete dry land workouts to compensate for the missed days. Failure to make up days will result in them being counted as non-participation days, potentially leading to grade reductions.

Parents, including Andy Amsdill, whose daughter attends the school, have expressed shock and called the requirement ridiculous and invasive. Amsdill noted that menstrual cycle length can be unpredictable, and the US National Institutes of Health estimates that 14% to 25% of women experience irregularities, which are even more common in young girls.

Another parent, Bryan Shishakly, shared that his daughter faced a similar requirement in her freshman gym class, which negatively impacted her grade, resulting in a C despite her being an "A" student. He questioned the fairness of a policy that only applies to girls.

Karl D Paulson, superintendent of Lakeview public schools, issued a statement acknowledging the parent's concern and indicated the district is seeking to schedule a meeting to discuss the issue collaboratively. It remains unclear if this policy is implemented across other gym classes or if it will be removed following the criticism. The controversy has also raised questions about whether the policy violates Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational programs receiving federal funding.