By reviewing the content of education items in the Handbook of Latin American Studies during the last 12 years, this paper traces and documents trends in research on Latin American education. Analysis of the items revealed the changing emphasis of educational topics from volume to volume. Judgments are made on type, geographical focus and topics of research. A comprehensive classification system (included in Appendix) was developed. All abstracts in each of the education sections of the Handbook since 1969 (Nos. 31-43, odd numbers) have been systematically examined and coded according to this system. Data are analyzed in three parts: (1) general characteristics of the publications reviewed in the Handbook's education sections since 1969; country or regional focus, dates of publication, format, special features, and type of research; (2) summary of reviewers' critical assessments of the publications with respect to the date, type and language, as well as type of research and educational topic; and (3) summary by region of reviewers' critical assessments, date, type and language of the publications, as well as type of research and educational topic. (Author/GK)