Re: Legality of single-sex education

Barbara J Tavares (btavares@hawaii.edu)
Fri, 20 Feb 1998 15:05:07 -1000


Thank you, Jo sanders, for your input on same gender classes. I get asked
about the legality on a regular basis, and know that they are
occassionally used to both the advantage and disadvantage of students
(depending on the situation).

I suspect others on the list serve will have input, and look forward to
learning more.
***************************************************************************
Barbara Tavares
University of Hawaii
808/956-6194

On Fri, 20 Feb 1998, Jo Sanders wrote:

>
> This information comes from Pat Campbell, who has extensively studied the
> legality of single-sex education:
>
> In response to complaints, the US Office of Civil Rights has ruled that
> programs to assign students to classes on the basis of gender are not
> allowed under Title IX, even if the assignment is voluntary on the part
> of the students. However, they have also ruled that having a coed math
> class and a second class targeted for female students but accessible to
> all students regardless of sex is allowed. (US GAO, 1996).
>
> The United States General Accounting Office (1996, pp. 6-7) went a step
> further, concluding in a report to the US House of Representatives that
> restricting enrollment in a public school by sex violated Title IX of
> the Education Amendments of 1972, and may also violate the equal
> protection clauses of the United States constitution and different state
> constitutions.
>
> In a related effort, a recent Supreme Court decision declared that "the
> Constitution^Rs equal protection guarantee precludes Virginia from
> reserving exclusively to men the unique educational opportunities VMI [a
> publicly funded, single-sex male university] affords" (United States Vs
> Virginia et al, Nos. 94-1941 and 94-2107, 1997). This decision was
> directed toward a public college, but may have implications for public
> elementary and secondary schools.
>
>
> I hope this clarifies some issues.
>
> Jo Sanders
>
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>
> Jo Sanders
> Director, Center for Gender Equity
> Washington Research Institute
> 150 Nickerson Street, Suite 305
> Seattle, WA 98109
> Phone (206) 285-9317
> Fax (206) 285-1523
> E-mail <jsanders@wri-edu.org>
>
>


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