As the Bush administration makes it easier for public school districts to establish single-sex classes and schools, Northern Kentucky educators differ over the merits of the concept.

        U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige this month announced his intention to amend federal regulations to provide more flexibility for educators to establish single-sex classes and schools at the elementary and secondary levels.

        The Kentucky Department of Education has not taken an official position on same-sex education, and doesn't track schools with such policies.

        But pilot programs are under way in at least two Kentucky public school districts — Covington and Paducah, where officials say same-sex classes have been a success.

        Cincinnati Public Schools did not respond to a request Friday about whether the district offers same-sex education.

        Eric Neff, principal of Covington's Two Rivers Middle School, said research shows that single-sex classes improve discipline and boost grades. For three weeks, the more than 300 sixth-graders at Two Rivers have studied music, arts, physical education and library in same-sex classes. The other time is spent in coed classes.

        “As far as behavior problems, I definitely don't have the referrals to the office that we once were receiving. So there are some positive things that are coming out of this,” Mr. Neff said.

        Susan Crooks has noticed a shift in students' behavior since single-sex classes began. The visual arts instructor at Two Rivers said students appear more comfortable expressing themselves.

        “The girls aren't showing off for the boys and the boys aren't showing off for the girls, so there's more learning that occurs,” Ms. Crooks said.

        Richard Dowdy, assistant principal of Paducah Middle School in Paducah, Ky., said 78 percent of the girls and 64 percent of the boys in sixth grade have improved their grades since single-sex classes began in January. His students spend five 50-minute classes in single-gender settings.

        Fred Bassett, superintendent of Beechwood Independent Schools, said he favors co-ed environments. “Part of going to school is social education,” he said, “and by having co-ed classes and going to co-ed schools, students learn to interact with the opposite sex and grow up with the opposite sex so they're not uncomfortable around the opposite sex.”

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