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in the U.S. that might be available in 1983, it appears that the
quantity has increased, but not greatly, since the Casal and Hernandez'
(1975) survey.
Demography
The U.S. Department of Commerce (1981) estimates there are 14.6
million persons of Spanish origin in the U.S. Ehrlichman (1982) believes
the total to be more than 15 million. All reports on population
statistics conclude that Hispanics are now the most rapidly growing
ethnic group, and that by the turn of the century their population in
this country is expected to double.
In terms of primary language background, the number of non-English-
speaking persons is expected to increase from the 28 million counted in
1976 to about 40 million by the year 2000. The Spanish-speaking portion
of this massive group of persons is expected to increase in actual num
bers and percentage of the group from 10.6 million or 38% in 1976, to
18.2 million or 46% in 2000, according to Oxford, Pol, Lopez, Stupp,
Gendell, and Peng (1981). These authors point out the implications for
educational planning are great in terms of meeting the needs of the
non-English- and limited English-speaking students.
Florida has the fourth largest Hispanic population in the U.S.
(Fratoe, 1981) and the numbers continue to grow, not only from continued
migration from South and Central America and the Caribbean, but from
the internal migration of Cubans who return to Florida as a place of
resettlement after initial location in other sections of the country.
Only three states have a lower percentage of native born residents than