The State of Washington has issued a memorandum to school districts affirming single-gender classes are prohibited except in narrow circumstances.
As a result, the Tacoma district will have to end a program at one middle school that separated boys and girls for several classes.
Randy I. Dorn, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, stated in the memo: "Washington state law prohibits school districts from providing any course, program, or activity separately based on sex even if a single sex class or activity is permissible under federal law."
Separation of students based on sex is permitted only for physical-education classes; classes that deal with human sexuality; and choir, the memo says.
