USA Federal Regulations for Single Sex Classes

Important to keep up to date with USA legal status of Single-Sex Classes.  Education Department Clarifies Requirements for Offering Single-Sex Classes ed.gov

New Campaign Against Single-Gender Education

The ACLU has launched a new campaign against single-gender education.  This one is called, "Teach Kid, Not Stereotypes."  Further, they are approaching several Departments of Education (state level) to investigate, if not intervene, with schools with single-gender programs.  Other Departments of Education have received, according to news articles, freedom of information requests, and the ACLU is determining what step to take next.

Indeed, programs that do not follow the federal guidelines should be fixed or ended.  This is why an understanding of single-gender programs is so important (and why I wrote my book on creating programs - A Gendered Choice by Corwin Press).

Those involved with single-gender need to know what forces are working against them and be prepared to argue their case.

Gendered issues still remain within classrooms and education.  A discussion about differentiated instruction, gendered achievement gaps, and overall classroom practice should still have gender as part of the conversation.

See the links here for information:

ACLU link to Teach Kids Not Stereotypes:  http://www.aclu.org/womens-rights/aclu-launches-teach-kids-not-stereotypes-campaign-against-single-sex-classes-rooted

Link to Article about Contacting State Departments of Education:  http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/23/us-usa-aclu-classroom-idUSBRE84M01020120523

Single-Gender Education in Arizona

Description about a single-gender program in Arizona.
http://www.azcentral.com/community/ahwatukee/articles/2012/04/27/20120427gililland-single-gender-classes-engage-pupils.html

Single-Gender Education in AASA

Current article from AASA on single gender education
http://www.aasa.org/content.aspx?id=23124

Barnett and Rivers Argue Against Single Gender Again

Another article against single gender. Seems that every month there is another article from similar people against single gender. The critique includes the traditional "no differences" argument, but also starts using some study information too.

In the politicized perspectives, what gets lost is the idea of differentiating instruction and allowing gender to be another piece of the puzzle. No, not the silver bullet. But part of an answer.

This Is Not the Way to Start a Single Gender Program

If you are starting a single gender program, take a look at this article to know what not to do. Be sure to involve and have he support of your school board. Also, remember, the idea that boys and girls learn differently is NOT a reason for single gender, but a reason to differentiate. Do your homework.
http://heraldindependent.com/view/full_story/17341922/article-Board-taken-off-guard-by-single-gender-classes?instance=secondary_stories_left_column

New Single Gender Bill Proposed for State of Washington

Read the bill. It basically matches the federal changes of 2006.

Single gender in Connecticut

Single gender in Connecticut
http://m.norwichbulletin.com/norwich/pm_29425/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=wd992vjp

Expansion of Single Gender in New Jersey

A small snipit that states that the district will expand single gender classes, see the second to last paragraph. It is interesting to note that there is growth despite efforts across the cou try to stop them.

Education Week Article on Single Gender Education

An article that looks at a study from Trinidad. The article includes comments from several people (including myself). An important part is the responses by the ACLU and their activity.

Boston Globe Editorial on Single-Gender Classes

Editorial from Boston Globe on single gender classes
http://articles.boston.com/2012-01-22/editorials/30649991_1_classrooms-boys-and-girls-gender-stereotypes

Supporting Single Gender Options in Missouri

An opinion article in support of offering single gender classes in Missouri, where the ACLU recently persuaded a local School district to cancel its classes. If the school district was in violation of the law then they should make changes and carry forward. If not, they should be allowed to offer legal choices to parents.

ACLU in Missouri

Their attack continues. Make no mistake, the ACLU is launching an attack and they are using recently issues political pieces dressed up in Science magazine for support, claiming that there is no scientific evidence. If you are looking at single gender education, make sure you have clear rationale and support of your school board.

Single gender in Texas

Austin School District taking the lead on public single gender programs
http://kutnews.org/post/austin-isd-hold-public-meeting-single-sex-schools

Positive Article on Single-Gender from Ithaca New York

An elementary school is having success with single-gender classes in Ithaca, New York.  If you are interested in starting a program, articles like this would be good to share with board members and parents.

Florida School District to Consider Single-Gender due to Competition with Charters

Interesting that the drive is to respond to competition from charters and private schools (http://mobile.sun-sentinel.com/p.p?m=b&a=rp&id=1142791&postId=1142791&postUserId=42&sessionToken=&catId=6700&curAbsIndex=1&resultsUrl=DID%3D6%26DFCL%3D1000%26DSB%3Drank%2523desc%26DBFQ%3DuserId%253A42%26DL.w%3D%26DL.d%3D10%26DQ%3DsectionId%253A6700%26DPS%3D0%26DPL%3D3)

Perhaps this is within the realm of increasing choice (which is part of the federal regulations).

More debate on single gender by NPR

NPR program with 3 people. Unfortunately it headlines the wrong question.
http://www.npr.org/2011/10/25/141692830/are-single-sex-classrooms-better-for-kids

Vermillion Parish Case Ends

The lawsuit between Vermillion Parish, LA and the ACLU is over. The school district agreed to not offer single gender classes in any of its schools until the 2016-2017 school year. The district says that the program ended due to decrease in parent interest.
Single gender options need support in how to create quality programs in order to meet the needs of students (which includes all teachers collaborating on strategies that affect subgroups differently.)

Debate on Single-Gender by Hyde and Sax

Live today (Oct. 13, 2011) at 10 AM ... I am sure there will be a link to a recording too.
http://whyy.org/cms/radiotimes/2011/10/13/the-debate-over-single-sex-schooling/

Number of Students in Single Gender School in UK Increasing

The article notes that there is an overall increase in the number of students being sent to single-gender schools in the UK.  It also notes that the rise in boys is greater than the rise in girls.