The structure and functions of the National Laboratory on Early Childhood Education are discussed. The National Laboratory was designed to assume a leadership role by actually conducting a coordinated research and development (R&D) program and by continuously analyzing the field to identify problem areas and solutions. The National Laboratory was started in 1967 by the U.S. Office of Education with a nucleus of R&D centers, a Coordination Center, and an Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) Clearinghouse. The R&D centers were envisioned as part of an integrated program, representing many disciplines and approaches but committed to cooperation. The group of centers would develop into a large network of communications among investigators and between them and practitioners. The National Coordination Center was designated to promote coordination among centers, reduce duplication, and generally raise the quality of R&D. The Steering Committee, composed of center directors and others, is the key instrument for achieving coordination of R&D work within the National Laboratory. The Advisory Board continually reviews the entire program, the quality of the research in individual centers and the efforts of the Coordination Center, in the context of the nationwide educational picture. (SW)