Examines how U.S. societal stratifications have pervaded early childhood care and education and related social programs and policies. Reviews the history of multitiered early childhood programs, focusing on African American education issues, early 20th-century child care, and Head Start's legacy and limitations. Charts future directions for child…

Examines three decades of school finance legislation, highlighting emerging judicial constructs of equity and adequacy. Generally, court decisions have turned on adequacy, rather than equity considerations. There is a broad movement under way to secure, in law and practice, poor children's rights to equal opportunity and nondiscrimination. This…