In recognition of the 35th anniversary of the enactment of the landmark Title IX legislation, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today made the following statement:

In celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Title IX law, we honor the principle of equal opportunity before the law and applaud the amazing contributions made by women.

Title IX's impact on college sports has been well documented. But its greatest influence has been in the classroom. In 1972, 46 percent of female high school students enrolled in college immediately after graduating. In 2005, that figure was 70 percent and climbing. Over that time period, the share of bachelor's degrees earned by women has risen from 44 to 57 percent.

The U.S. Department of Education remains committed to ensuring nondiscrimination in all aspects of Title IX enforcement. From 2002 through 2006, our Office of Civil Rights (OCR) investigated and resolved over 1,100 Title IX complaints. More than one-third involved charges of sexual harassment or retaliation. We are aggressively rooting out discrimination in order to foster a climate of fairness and justice.

To improve Title IX compliance, we continuously provide technical assistance to colleges and universities and work with school administrators to help them meet their responsibilities under the law.

We've come a long way in 35 years. But we must continue to move forward to level the playing field for all.

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