The different ways in which researchers have conceptualized Latin American education are identified. Written for an encyclopedia of educational research, this entry does not seek to describe and compare education "as it is" in some 28 Latin American republics. Rather it characterizes and compares how Latin American education has appeared to Latin American and other researchers over time. Four qualitatively different ways have been used to characterize Latin American education: (1) functionalist; (2) radical functionalist; (3) interpretive; and (4) radical interpretive. These approaches and the accompanying research are discussed in detail. A 59-item bibliography is included. (DB)