arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

The Bush administration, reversing three decades of federal policy, yesterday announced its intention to encourage single-sex education in the nation's public schools.

"A proposal by the U.S. Department of Education would change the way the federal government enforces the 30-year-old Title IX statute, the landmark law that outlaws discrimination based on gender. Instead of discouraging all-girls and all-boys public schools as it does now, the government will encourage and help establish them, officials said."

"Many boys do better in a single-sex atmosphere without the extraneous distractions of girls," said Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.), who authored the provision clarifying the law governing same-sex schools. "Similarly, many girls do better, especially in terms of speaking up and being assertive, without the extraneous distractions of boys."

"Yesterday's proposal begins the process of implementing that law. After a 60-day comment period, the department will write new regulations codifying its intentions."