If you know your American history, particularly the Civil Rights era, then you know about the long, ugly struggle to end legalized discrimination in this country.

Title VI states, ”No person in the United States shall, on the basis of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

Title VI applies to all levels of education - public or private - that receive federal financial assistance. The statute extends to all programs and activities and prohibits denial of equal access to college- and career-preparatory courses, programs for English learners, and discriminatory discipline and harassment.

On the 48th anniversary of the landmark shift in education, it is worth examining how far we've come. In a nutshell: Not as far as we'd like to think.

The Office of Civil Rights, which is in the U.S. Department of Education, received nearly 5,500 discrimination complaints in the last three years - a record.

Data culled from the Civil Rights Data Collection and released by the Office of Civil Rights in March was heartbreaking. About 72,000 schools teaching 85 percent of America’s students were surveyed. The result is sad proof that racial inequities remain a reality in many schools. For example, African-American students are more than 3 ½ times more likely than their white peers to be suspended or expelled. That data mirrors a survey done by the Seattle Public Schools a few years back that found minority students were more likely to be punished, and more harshly, than white students even for the same infraction.

The federal survey found that Hispanic students represent 21 percent of the enrollment in high school but only 13 percent of students passing at least one Advanced Placement exam.

Title VI prohibits denial of access to college-and career-prepatory courses and programs and other educational opportunities, discriminatory discipline, harassment, and barriers to education for Engish learners.

Equal opportunity for many students remains elusive.