Because Hispanics are the fastest growing minority in the United States and are projected to become the largest minority during the 1980's, the education system must be more responsive to their needs. Fewer Hispanic children enroll in school than do non-Hispanics, many of them fall behind in school, and they have higher attrition rates than non-Hispanic students. Mexican American students are more often retained in grade, placed in low ability groups, or placed in classes for the educationally or mentally retarded than are other students. Mobility and language factors create educational problems for the migrant student. After providing information on historical background and present status of Hispanic students, the report describes the contributions of the following school programs and approaches: Title I, Head Start, Migrant Education, Bilingual Education, Vocational Education, and Special Education. Also discussed is the need for bilingual teachers and texts. Recommendations for improved Hispanic education include: (1) better records on Hispanic groups in order to better address specific educational needs; (2) elimination of all discrimination and segregation of Mexican Americans; (3) facilitation and validation of academic credit accrual and exchange process; and (4) increased bilingual education and other programs for limited-English-proficient students. (CM)