A study was made of early childhood practices among Asian populations to meet the information needs of public school in the United States which serve students ethnically Asian. The focus of the report is on the demographic nature of the Asian population, the cultural characteristics of the most frequent subgroups of Asian-Americans, and the impact of cultural characteristics on the childrearing practices of families. The report also provides a review of the literature and research of the past 25 years (1961 - 1986). Groups described include Japanese, Chinese, Filipinos, Indochinese, Koreans, Hawaiians, and Samoans. Appendices provide tables of demographic data, articles of Japanese educational policy, and a curriculum for elementary schools in Japan. (Author/RH)