You may remember that many participants at The Gathering felt a Democratic administration would look more negatively on same sex schools. Is this the beginning?
Same-sex schools opposed by ACLU
Group urges Cleveland to scrap its plans
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Joseph L. Wagner
Plain Dealer Reporter
The American Civil Liberties Union wants the Cleveland school district to scrap five new single-gender schools scheduled to open in August, saying they are discriminatory and the approach could backfire on students.

"Americans have long since learned that separate is not equal when it comes to educating our young people," said Jeffrey Gamso, legal director of the Ohio ACLU. "This is a throw-it-up-at-the-wall-and-see-if-it-will-stick situation."

The ACLU's move appears to be part of a nationwide effort by the civil rights agency to stop the proliferation of same-sex schools. Three districts in the nation had single-gender schools in 1995, but by this year the number had climbed to 262, according to the National Association For Single Sex Public Education.

In Louisiana, the ACLU threatened legal action to force a school district to abandon the same-sex concept. The ACLU is also opposing a similar attempt in a Wisconsin district.

"We have received a public records request from the Ohio ACLU and are in the process of responding to that request," said Cleveland district spokesman Ron Kisner in a written statement.

He added that the district is "committed to the single-gender school option which reflects the will of the people whom we extensively polled during a series of community meetings coupled with on-line surveys and focus groups."

Kisner said he did not know how many students had applied to the single-gender schools so far.

The ACLU's public records request seeks details on what data the district used to decide on single-gender schools, how students and teachers are being selected and whether the curriculum will be the same as in co-ed schools.

Gamso said the ACLU has not decided yet if it will sue the Cleveland district.

He praised the district for looking at other educational options but said officials overlooked more proven methods to improve student performance. They include recruiting "culturally competent" teachers, increasing teacher pay, improving school administration and making the curriculum more challenging.

Cleveland schools CEO Eugene Sanders launched some single-sex schools when he was superintendent in Toledo. He has said they can help retain students in Cleveland, a district that has lost 20,000 students in five years.

Douglas MacArthur Elementary will be the girls school and Valley View the boys school on the West Side.

On the East Side, Kenneth W. Clement will be the boys school and Warner the girls school.

Initially, they will be for kindergarten through second grade, with a grade to be added each year.

In addition, the Ginn Academy - for boys who need extra academic and support services - will be in the former Health Careers Center.

A leader of a group that wants Warner to remain co-ed heralded the ACLU's move as a "victory."

"We want an integrated community-based school," said Elizabeth Coles.

Sanders made changes in the sites for the single-gender schools after some parents and City Council members criticized him for failing to seek their views.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

jwagner@plaind.com, 216-999-4906