ONE HUNDRED EDUCATORS FROM 13 SOUTHERN STATES MET FOR A 3-DAY CONFERENCE IN WHICH POSSIBLE DIRECTIONS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION WERE EXPLORED WITH SPECIFIC EMPHASIS ON STATE-FUNDED PRESCHOOL EDUCATION FOR THE DISADVANTAGED CHILD. REPORTS WERE GIVEN ON THE FOLLOWING ONGOING PROJECTS--(1) DEMONSTRATION AND RESEARCH CENTER FOR EARLY EDUCATION (DARCEE), GEORGE PEABODY COLLEGE FOR TEACHERS, (2) THE LEARNING TO LEARN SCHOOL, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, (3) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER IN EDUCATIONAL STIMULATION, UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, (4) DURHAM EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, DUKE UNIVERSITY AND NORTH CAROLINA COLLEGE, (5) FRANK PORTER GRAHAM INSTITUTE ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, (6) PARENT EDUCATION PROJECT, INSTITUTE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, (7) SUMTER CHILD STUDY PROJECT, SOUTH CAROLINA, (8) NATIONAL TEACHER CORPS, UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, (9) HEAD START. INCLUDED ARE A LIST OF CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ON EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDIES. THIS DOCUMENT IS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE SOUTHERN EDUCATION FOUNDATION, 811 CYPRESS STREET, N.E., ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30308. (MS)