Volume I of a five-volume study of the trends in segregation of Hispanic students in public schools contains a review of relevant litigation and legislation dating from the 1850's and notes the almost negligible effect on Hispanic desegregation of such landmark events as the 1954 "Brown" decision and the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The effects of desegregation on Hispanics in the areas of achievement, ability grouping, dropouts and suspensions, quality of education, curriculum, staff allocations, and bilingual services are described, as are community response to desegregation, the so-called "white flight", and busing. School desegregation remedies are examined, with emphasis given to community involvement and mandatory plans (which appear to be more successful than voluntary plans) and including a discussion of the role of bilingual education in desegregation. Finally, a theoretical framework for the research findings of the study as a whole is presented. (SB)