The case, or not, for single-sex education

Single-sex education is on the rise in public schools, as educators seek to improve academic performance among poorer students, reports Motoko Rich for The New York Times. The theory that girls learn differently from boys is held in low regard by most social scientists; however, some districts have seen improvement in low-income-student outcomes when trying the approach. According to the U.S. Department of Education, 750 public schools around the country have at least one single-sex class, and 850 schools are entirely single-sex. Critics cite scant evidence of substantial differences in brain development between boys and girls, and warn that dividing children by gender reinforces entrenched stereotypes. Advocates of single-sex classes cite the struggles of boys, who lag behind girls in national tests of reading comprehension, and are more likely to face disciplinary problems and drop out of school. Educators also argue that girls underperform in science compared with boys, and benefit learning with other girls. This year, the ACLU has filed complaints against four Florida districts, accusing them of using "overly broad stereotypes" to justify separating girls and boys into different classrooms. The ACLU also filed a complaint in Austin, Texas against two new single-sex middle schools, and has pending complaints in Idaho and Wisconsin. Lawsuits in Louisiana and West Virginia have resulted in single-sex classes reverting to coeducation. More

Source:  Public Education News Blast

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Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) is an education support organization that works as a collaborative partner in high-poverty communities.