Releases : Education

DENTON (UNT), Texas -- Public schools at the elementary and secondary levels will have more flexibility to offer single-sex classrooms starting Nov. 24 (Friday) under new regulations from the U.S. Department of Education. The new rules will amend existing regulations under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits sex discrimination in education programs.

Dr. Richard Fossey, a professor in the Department of Teacher Education and Administration at the University of North Texas and an expert in education law, says the new rules "reflect a growing belief that single-sex education is beneficial for some students, particularly disadvantaged students." He says: "Dropout rates in the inner-city school systems are very high. For Hispanic and African-American boys in these systems, the rate is often around 50 percent. Single-sex classes may help address this problem.

"The Department of Education has recognized the place of single-sex educational settings at the college level," he says. "All-male and all-female colleges do not violate federal law. These new rules are an indication that the Department of Education recognizes the value of single-sex education in K-12 settings, and it is a welcome development. Catholic schools have provided single-sex education for centuries, and research shows that Catholic schools are very effective in educating disadvantaged youth."

Fossey holds a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and a doctorate of education from Harvard University. Fossey can be reached at (940) 565-2514.

Dr. Mary Harris, interim chair of the Department of Teacher Education and Administration at UNT, can speak both firsthand and as an educator about the benefits of single-sex classrooms. Harris attended Goucher College, near Baltimore, when it was a single-sex college.

"Single-sex education can be very beneficial for students who want or need an opportunity to focus on academic learning without the distractions of social expectations that can be a powerful influence on adolescents," Harris says. "Research has shown that teachers tend to call more frequently on boys and on students who are active in the classroom. This can disadvantage the learning of girls and students who may be shy or contemplative. Single-sex education offers girls the opportunity to learn in a classroom designed to support their learning styles and interests and to build their self-confidence as learners."

Harris can be reached at (940) 565-4327 or (940) 565-2843 or by e-mail at harris@coe.unt.edu.

Two other UNT education experts are available to comment on the topic.

Dr. Jean Keller, dean of the College of Education at UNT, says the research in the field of single-sex classrooms is inconclusive. "A key to quality education for all students, in my opinion, is to set high academic standards and performance measures, provide quality academic experiences and teachers, and evaluate and assess teaching and learning outcomes," Keller says. Keller can be reached at (940) 565-2233.

Dr. Sandra Spencer, the director of the Women's Studies Program at UNT, says this is not a same-sex world. "Title IX has attempted to level the playing field for the sexes in education," she says. "Disregarding this important legislation seems ill-conceived and short-sighted. I am very skeptical that this same-sex education proposal will address any of the real problems in education today." Spencer can be reached at (940) 565-2532.

DENTON (UNT), Texas -- It's one of the biggest changes to coed classrooms in more than 30 years. The Bush administration is giving public schools wider latitude to teach boys and girls separately under new guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Education. But the dean of the College of Education at the University of North Texas says the research in the field is inconclusive.

Dr. Jean Keller says, "There are findings that show schools serving girls allow them to hold roles and have experiences that are often afforded to males in coed schools. Likewise, similar findings have been found for males in schools serving boys."

Education officials initially proposed the rules more than two years ago, citing research suggesting both higher student achievement and fewer discipline problems in single-sex classes including math and foreign languages. Keller says setting high standards and assessing if those standards are met are needed to see if single-sex classes are effective.

"A key to quality education for all students, in my opinion, is to set high academic standards and performance measures, provide quality academic experiences and teachers, and evaluate and assess teaching and learning outcomes," Keller says. "Possibly, offering various educational experiences to students and parents is a sound practice.  Establishing guidelines and benchmarks to assure quality in schools and student performance, regardless of the type of educational environment, is essential."

Dr. Sandra Spencer, the director of the Women's Studies Program at the University of North Texas, is skeptical of single-sex classes. She, too, points to the conflicting research, and is concerned this is a solution in search of a problem.

Spencer says, "Title IX (the federal regulations prohibiting education discrimination based on gender) already allows for same-sex education when there are legitimate reasons for it. ‘Separate but equal' schooling fell by the legal wayside in 1954. Same-sex education could easily slip back into that category. As I understand it, the program offers limited goals and proposes no regulations. Can we afford lack of accountability in something as important as education for children?"

Spencer adds this is not a same-sex world. "Title IX has attempted to level the playing field for the sexes in education," she says. "Disregarding this important legislation seems ill-conceived and short-sighted. I am very skeptical that this same-sex education proposal will address any of the real problems in education today." Keller can be reached at (940) 565-2233. Spencer can be reached at (940) 565-2532.