Coed Schools
By: Karina Galvis and Julia Lopez
Background Inform ation
▪ Single-sex education has been growing in popularity since the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act was passed, allowing local educational agencies to use “Innovative
Programs” funds to support same-gender schools and classrooms “consistent with existing law.” The U.S.
Department of Education loosened its Title IX regulation in 2006 to diminish prohibitions on single-sex education.
▪ http://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/02/coed.aspx
Reasons W hy Single-Sex Schools are m ore eff ective than Coed Schools…
▪ Boys and girls differ in the way they act, how they learn, and in their interests and abilities. They need an educational environment custom-made to meet their unique needs.
▪ Without boys in their classes, girls are more likely to be leaders and reach higher levels of achievement, which leads to greater selfconfidence and higher professional ambitions.
▪ Many students may find it easier to participate actively in classes where everyone is the same sex. Others enjoy the camaraderie that often connects classmates at single-sex schools.
▪ The stereotypical thinking that girls don't perform as well as boys in math and science may cause girls to hold back in those classes or not take those classes for fear of underachieving. Likewise, single sex language arts classes may help to dislodge stereotypical thinking that indicates males don't perform as well as females in language arts.
Reasons Continued…
▪ Though many boys' and girls' schools are at the top of their game academically, they often have a more relaxed environment. This relaxed environment is created, in part, because boys and girls don't need to worry about impressing the other gender. The students can be themselves in class, and they can speak openly and honestly. At the same time, students in single-sex schools are often more willing to take risks because they do not fear falling on their face in front of the other sex.