The Mexican American population at the present time is approximately 4 million, of which 80% are urban dwellers. For the city schools this situation poses difficult problems which have remained mostly unsolved, as evidenced by the high rate of Mexican American dropouts from high schools. Since the educational system has failed the Mexican American, educators should seek help from the community power structure in order to involve the community in improving education. However, local leaders should be identified by the Mexican American community and not by the Anglo community. Mexican Americans are determined to make significant changes in the educational process of the bilingual-bicultural student, and educators must either meet the challenge, or be inundated by it. (RH)