ABSTRACT
It is imperative to gain an in-depth understanding of the historical educational progress made—in both K–12 and postsecondary levels—by the Latino student population, which continues to grow at a faster pace than any other major ethnic/racial group in the United States. It is also critical to carefully examine the challenging achievement gaps and the unintended consequences of existing education policies and practices, which may pose a threat to achieving educational equity and equality, which have been a crucial American endeavor for decades. Particular attention must be given to the institutional diversity of US colleges and universities, which operate within multiple sectors and types including two-year and four-year, public and private (nonprofit and for-profit). In order to better understand the condition of education for any particular group or segment in the US population, which may include individuals with various demographic and background characteristics, one must pay attention to key educational life events and indicators.
