We used data from the National Health Interview Survey to examine racial and ethnic differences in the management of childhood asthma - including the likelihood that children with asthma have taken preventive medicine, received an asthma management plan, or taken a class or course on treating asthma. We found significant differences between African-American, white, non-Hispanic, Mexican American, and Puerto Rican and other Hispanic children. We discuss implications for public health responses and racial and ethnic disparities in asthma morbidity.