Puerto Ricans and the Public Schools: A Critical Commentary. Working Papers on Meeting the Education Needs of Cultural Minorities.

This paper was commissioned by the Education Commission of the States to identify the educational needs of Puerto Rican students in the mainland United States. A historical overview of Puerto Rico, Puerto Ricans, and their relationships with mainland United States is presented with a focus on the Puerto Rican emigration to the mainland. The role played by public schools in the assimilation, "Americanization," and education of Puerto Rican children is discussed. Topics examined include educational issues, bilingual education, language policy, community control, school desegregation, and legal issues. The paper concludes with recommendations for policy development. A list of possible areas of conflict during the concurrent implementation of race and national origin desegregation plans is appended. (MK)