While the task of defining and counting the Hispanic population is very complex and existing data is inconsistent, several trends emerge with implications for public education policy. Between 1970 and 1980, California's Hispanic population increased by 50% to 4.5 million, 19.2% of the state population, and is expected to increase to between 24.4% and 28.1% of the State population by the year 2000. Most (91.6%) live in urban areas; nearly half in Los Angeles County. Hispanics are disproportionately concentrated in low-income, low-status jobs in farm, service and blue-collar occupations with a median income 76% of that of non-Hispanics. Their median age is about 8 years younger than non-Hispanics and over 59% of Hispanic adults are high school graduates; the droupout rate is estimated between 35 and 40 per cent; and 72% of all Hispanic students are considered "underachievers." Less than 20% of Hispanics attend college and only 5.7% have had any post-graduate education. Hispanics are greatly under-represented in the teacher population; there is a critical shortage of bilingual teachers; and segregation of Hispanic students has noticeably increased. (MCK)