Recommendations for national child care policy are offered. It is recommended that the Federal Government, in partnership with the states, expand subsidies to support low-income families' use of high quality child care programs and arrangements. In partnership with the states, the Federal Government should expand Head Start and other compensatory preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-olds at risk of early school failure. Governments at all levels, and employers and other private-sector groups, should make investments to strengthen the infrastructure of the child care system. To this end, it is recommended that: (1) resource and referral services be expanded; (2) caregiver training and wages be improved; (3) vendor-voucher programs be expanded; (4) the organization of family day care organizations be encouraged; and (5) planning and coordination be improved. It is also recommended that the Federal Government initiate a process to develop national standards for child care and mandate unpaid leave for employed parents of infants up to 1 year of age. Concluding arguments assert that children must head the list of national priorities. (RH)