U.S. Census Underscores Diversity

By Karla Scoon Reid

Dramatic demographic shifts, especially a marked growth in the Hispanic population, could help broaden the view of diversity in America's classrooms beyond black and white and heighten interest in minority students' needs, educators and national experts said in reacting to the release of new U. S. Census data.

The changing complexion of the nation's students isn't a new phenomenon. Still, some believe the 2000 Census figures may galvanize policymakers, taxpayers, and school leaders and translate into additional resources, improved teacher training, more culturally inclusive curricula, and wider political representation.

"We really have had a biracial mindset in dealing with minority education issues," said Harry P. Pachon, the president of the Tomás Rivera Policy Institute, a Claremont, Calif.-based center on Latino issues. "This is the new reality. We need to shift to a...