Judge halts West Virginia school's single-sex classes

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. – A Wood County school's single-gender classes are on hold while a lawsuit challenging their legality is heard in federal court.

U.S. District Chief Judge Joseph Goodwin issued a preliminary injunction Wednesday halting the classes at Van Devender Middle School in Parkersburg for the remainder of the school year. The American Civil Liberties Union requested the injunction.

The ACLU sued the school, the Wood County Board of Education and several education administrators earlier this month on behalf of the parent of three female students. The lawsuit argues that the single-gender classes violate federal law.

ACLU of West Virginia executive director Brenda Green tells the Parkersburg News and Sentinel that the group is pleased that the injunction was granted.