School-age child care is part of an array of services that young children may need and that can be appropriately included under the category of early childhood programs. At the federal, state, and local levels, schools are emerging as a focus for school-age care policy and program initiatives. This trend is a reflection of a growing pressure for more responsive schools. However, school boards are reluctant participants. Concern exists about fiscal liability if financing can't be assured. It is feared that parents will pressure the school board to fund the programs. Financing and program quality are major problems. Yet another problem of programs provided by schools is market equity. In several states, providers have sued schools on the grounds of unfair competition. Unless public education redefines its boundaries to include child care, a two-tiered approach will continue to characterize school-based child care, with the school-age programs constituting a second tier of services that families want and schools try to provide. Issues surfacing in school-affiliated school-age care include salary differentials, staff retention, and affordability. Concluding remarks offer recommendations for state and local public school involvement in school-age child care. (RH)