Significant changes in the public school population throughout the United States are influenced by the increasing numbers of immigrants who enter the country annually. It is estimated that in the next 50 years the U.S. population will become exceedingly more ethnically diverse than it is at present. Immigrants from Asian and Pacific Rim countries are emigrating to the United States more rapidly than any other group. We discuss the impact of increased numbers of Asian and Pacific Islander students in the context of special education. In particular, we focus on the changing demographics of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the overall U.S. population and on the importance of designing and delivering special education services that address their diverse cultural and linguistic characteristics, culturally and linguistically relevant instructional practices, and parental involvement.
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