Creating school bathroom rules that are fair to students

In this guide

• How often should students need to use the bathroom?
• Bathroom laws for schools
• Classroom bathroom rules I use to minimize disruption
  • 1) One student at a time
  • 2) Passes and visual aids
  • 3) Set positive expectations for younger students
  • 4) Period poverty and hygiene products

Everyone needs to use the bathroom. That’s something everyone can agree on too, but when it comes to regulating bathroom breaks for students, it gets more complicated.

In 2023, the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) did a survey of 362 school nurses across the United States. 64% of school nurses reported that their school had no written bathroom policy for students. When there’s no school mandated policy, the responsibility for these decisions gets put on the teachers.

Bathroom rules are a bigger issue in some schools than others. Bathroom vandalism and loitering can negatively impact students and staff, and creating rules that counter those issues while remaining fair isn’t always easy. 

A Colorado school’s strict bathroom policy that required IDs to enter is a great example of that fine line. The rule  “tremendously reduced the number of students loitering in restrooms” (Richardson, 2024) but led to students waiting hours to use them or getting restricted entirely for most of the school day. Female students and students with health needs were impacted the most. 

There was something everyone agreed on in SWHR’s survey: more than a third of school nurses felt there isn’t enough time between classes for students to use the bathroom, and many parents and students feel the same. That means students will need to access the bathroom during classes.

So, how can teachers ensure that students have access to this basic need without sacrificing too much class time?

How often should students need to use the bathroom?

The short answer is 3 to 6 times a day. The long answer is that it varies on age and other health factors.

Younger students have to go more often, and female students in middle, upper elementary, and high school may need more frequent trips. Many girls begin their menstrual cycles in upper elementary or middle school, and this transitory period may require more trips to the bathroom than usual as they navigate this change. 

“Female students are distinctly disadvantaged by restrictive bathroom policies and the lack of free and easily available menstrual products in school bathrooms,” Nebel, PhD, director of scientific programs at the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR), said.

The SWHR’s survey uncovered that three-quarters of school nurses had students with bladder or bowel problems. Holding in urine for excessive amounts of time can weaken bladder muscles and lead to health issues like urinary tract infections. It’s not just students who face these issues either; around a quarter of school nurses said that staff want better bathroom access.

Bathroom laws for schools

The most common issues with school bathrooms usually involve one of two things. First, students that take bathroom breaks for too long and too frequently, or to do something else entirely during the break. The second is misbehavior in the bathroom and vandalism. 

Bathroom laws were an issue that I remember dealing with as a student. The bathrooms were sometimes unsafe, and occasionally vandalized. It was a frustrating experience; I felt overly restricted from using the bathroom when I needed it, yet I knew why bathroom breaks were regulated because I saw what happened. When I taught in that same district years later, this feeling was oddly familiar from the other side.

Ultimately, bathroom rules vary depending on the school you’re in–if there’s any at all. Many schools use systems like hall or bathroom passes that restrict the amount of times students can take bathroom breaks in a day.  Legally, the US federal government only outlines bathroom break requirements for students with 504 plans. Some states, like New York, have the state health department establish guidelines. 

Classroom bathroom rules I use to minimize disruption

Ultimately, unless a student has a 504 plan, you’re on your own when it comes to bathroom rules. It can be a difficult task that varies on the age and needs of your students, but hopefully some of the following ideas can help!

1) One student at a time

One of the easiest ways to prevent loitering in the bathroom is to limit how many students are there at once. Letting one student go at a time can make a big difference. Some teachers allow two students to go if they’re using different bathrooms, such as a male and female bathroom pass, but this depends on any preexisting rules or facilities your school has.

It’s important to give some kind of notice or visual aid for bathroom breaks. This lets students know whether someone else is already using their break and if they can go, and it’s helpful for students in schools that require some sort of hall pass. 

2) Passes and visual aids

Hall or bathroom passes can be anything! You can make different ones for different needs, such as for certain bathrooms or ones on certain floors. Printing and laminating passes are often the most accessible option.

Some tips and tricks for your bathroom and hall passes:

• Use a hole puncher to string a lanyard through the pass. You can use the lanyard to hang it by the door of the classroom, and it’s a great way for students to keep them visible and easily carry them.
• An old trick for frequently missing passes is the same trick that gas stations use for bathroom keys: put the pass on something large and obnoxious. I can still remember some of the more creative ‘hall passes’ my teachers used. I’ve seen large key rings with plushie keychains and jingling bells, or small paddle boards painted in bright colors. Get creative!

A good visual alternative or addition to a hall pass is putting up a tap light by the door or where the pass is displayed. Students tap the light on when they leave, and tap it off when they return. It’s a quiet, easy reminder of when students can go next and establishes routine.

3) Set positive expectations for younger students

Timing bathroom breaks is something adults have to do every day, whether it’s working them around work, home, and other tasks. Younger students are still navigating that skill, so it’s important to help them develop healthy habits and expectations that’ll help them in later grades.

Make sure to explain your classroom bathroom rules and give students a chance to ask any questions about them. Don’t shy away from questions about using the bathroom. Not all students can get these answers at home, and it’s important to establish what’s normal and healthy. 

Discuss what times are best to take bathroom breaks (if they can wait). For example, waiting until after the lesson instructions are given or going during quiet work time. If you’re using a bathroom pass system, tell them why students take turns and how to know when it’s their turn.

If young students are taking a lot of bathroom breaks, check in with a school nurse so they can identify any possible health issues that could be causing it. 

4) Period poverty and hygiene products 

When I was a student, everyone knew of a teacher who would help you if you needed something embarrassing–like tampons, floss, and even lotion. I was in a deeply underfunded school district and many teachers had to buy their own classroom supplies. Many stocked up on the things their students often needed but couldn’t get at home.

This isn’t unique to my region though. 33% of American students struggle to buy menstrual hygiene products. Most schools don’t stock them in the bathrooms. They tell students to go to the nurse’s office, which many are too embarrassed to do, or they’re a part of the 60% of schools without a full time nurse. 

Some states are working to have menstrual products in schools, but there’s still plenty of things you can do to help students with their period. Keeping a drawer, box, or kit for your students can make a major impact on their lives.

Things to add to your kit:

• Pads, ideally a mixture of heavy and regular flow ones, and/or winged and unwinged.
• Disposable sanitary wipes or baby wipes (not hand sanitizing wipes, but those are good to have too)
• Tampons and liners (these may be less popular than the pads, but students may use them).
• Consider making individual menstrual kits.

Your kit or drawer can also include hygiene products for any student who may lack access to them, such as bobby pins, disposable toothbrushes or mini mouthwash, band aids, hair ties, mini deodorants, contacts cases and solution, safety pins, and granola bars.

Bathroom rules will look different for every class, but taking time to address this basic need with your students can go a long way in making your classroom feel safer and welcoming. For additional guidance in managing classrooms and rules, check our other articles on classroom management. 

References

1. SWHR. (2018). Survey of School Nurses Reveals Lack of Bathroom Policies and Bladder Health Education – SWHR. [online] Available at: https://swhr.org/survey-of-school-nurses-reveals-lack-of-bathroom-policies-and-bladder-health-education/.
2. Breunlin, E. (2024). Need to use the bathroom during class? At this Colorado school, students must first show their ID. [online] The Colorado Sun. Available at: https://coloradosun.com/2024/03/12/colorado-school-bathroom-policy-eagle-ridge-academy-brighton/ [Accessed 5 Apr. 2024].
3. Tate, A. (2019). Should teachers be allowed to limit students’ bathroom use? [online] TODAY.com. Available at: https://www.today.com/parents/should-schools-limit-bathroom-passes-students-t150088.