The Iowa vision of early childhood described in this document was developed in 1990 with input and feedback from many Iowa Department of Education staff, and from individuals and groups outside the department. The goal of the Iowa vision is to insure that early childhood opportunities are available to all children in Iowa. The vision's rationale is that prevention is a better investment than remediation for the future of all state citizens. It is maintained that a coordinated delivery system should involve the participation of parents, the community, school districts, and government agencies. Key components for a comprehensive delivery system involve: (1) local community resources; (2) regional resources, including Area Education Agency consultants and referral agencies; and (3) state resources, including early childhood advisory committees and task forces, grants, and technical assistance networks. It is asserted that developmentally appropriate instructional materials should be made available to all children and their families. Twenty-four recommendations for enhancing early childhood education through 1995 are listed. Some of the recommendations have already been legislated. An early childhood education funding plan is described year by year through 1995. Finally, a history of early childhood education in Iowa covers the period from 1970 to the present. (BC)