ABSTRACT
The changing demographic profile of the United States has been carefully researched by social policy analysts, think tanks, sociologists, demographers, and educational researchers alike. Individually and collectively, their research highlights population and immigration shifts that point to dramatic changes in the racial and ethnic composition of this country (Gibson & Jung, 2002; Pew Hispanic Center, 2010). Moreover, their research findings are supported by U.S. Census figures that showcase the dramatic transformation that has taken place in major cities and states across the nation in the past three decades alone. This research suggests that a demographic and social transition has taken place—largely fueled by a significant growth in the Latino 1 population over the past 30 years (Aponte & Siles, 1997; Millard & Chapa, 2004; U.S. Census Bureau, 2010a).
