Although to many educators Asian Pacific American students seem to look and be alike and are perceived as model minority students, they actually represent many diverse cultural groups and complex communities, both recently arrived and of long standing in the United States. Difficulties that may arise between the new immigrant and U.S.-born populations having roots over 200 years in the United States mirror those that can surface among ethnic groups of vastly differing Asian backgrounds. Asian Pacific American students bring a variety of languages to schools. Their self-concepts and psychological needs vary greatly, and their academic achievement is not as uniformly excellent as is popularly supposed. Prejudice and ethnic bias affect the Asian Pacific American student as they do all minority groups. Research on educational issues such as learning and communication styles is necessary to determine the differing patterns of the various ethnic groups. Educators must discard their beliefs in the homogeneity of Asian Pacific Americans and determine the real needs of these children. (Contains 70 references.) (SLD)