The non-English language background (NELB) population is projected to increase from 28 million persons in 1976 to 30 million in 1980, 34.7 million in 1990, and 39.5 million in the year 2000. The total number of limited English proficient (LEP) children ages 5-14 estimated for 1976 is 2.5 million, with a drop to 2.4 million in 1980 and a gradual increase to 2.8 million in 1990 and 3.4 million in 2000. The study's purpose was to make demographic projections of the LEP population in the United States for the years 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, and 2000, using 1976 as the base year. NELB projections were also made because they are a prerequisite for LEP projections. The results represent the only in-depth information about numbers of LEP persons by age, state, and language group to date. [InterAmerica Research Associates, Inc. and its subcontractor, Westat, Inc., conducted the study for the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).]