This paper describes the work of the National Council of La Raza to improve education for Hispanic students and their families. It provides an overview of the council's Innovative Education Project, an effort to demonstrate and evaluate effective models for use by affiliated community-based organizations to improve educational outcomes for Hispanic students. The project stems from an examination of the educational status of Hispanics, signs of promise and some specific concerns raised by local communities. The five models used by the project include: the Academia del Pueblo; Project Success; Project Second Chance; Parents as Partners; and the Teacher Support Network. Three of the five models are designed to address student groups and special populations that have been determined to be the most "at-risk." The remaining two projects address the needs of parents and teachers, whose informed assistance is essential to improve children's educational outcomes. This paper reports on the progress of the program, and it provides information on the models themselves, including background about their development. It also offers some general impressions gathered during the process of demonstrating and evaluating these programs. The paper reflects the belief of La Raza that fundamental changes in the philosophy, structure, and practices of schooling are necessary if public schools are to improve education for Hispanic and other minority group students. The paper concludes that community-generated local projects can work effectively with parents and teachers to improve Hispanic children's school performance. (TES)