As an introduction to a 1992 symposium of educators, administrators, researchers, and legislators concerned with the education of minority students, this paper reviews the overriding issues related to diversity and American education reform in the context of Goal 3 of the National Education Goals. Framed in a context of economic uncertainty, social fragmentation, and political unrest, diversity in society worldwide has emerged as a prime focus for concern. The rapidly changing demography of the U.S. population is described. The number of language minority youth and young adults continues to grow dramatically, but their level of academic achievement lags significantly behind that of their language majority counterparts and appears to be rapidly worsening. It is suggested that although the impetus for educational reform comes at least in part from a response to the conditions created by increasing diversity, the leaders of the movement have largely failed to involve language minorities or address their concerns. Contains 20 references. (LB)