The purpose of this meeting, one of a series of family impact seminars was to explore definitions of quality in child care and the ways in which quality can be encouraged. The seminar was held in response to a number of child care bills under consideration by the 101st Congress that reopen the issue of federal regulation of child care. This document contains two parts: (1) highlights of the seminar; and (2) a background briefing report in eight sections prepared before the meeting. The first part, summarizes comments by panelists Ann Segal, Barbara Willer, Linda Eggbeer, and Ellen Kisker. The second and main part of the document is the briefing report. It begins with a section titled "The Policy Questions," which provides an overview of such policy issues as the role of the government, strategies for improving quality, costs, and the effects of stronger efforts at regulation. The next section, "What is Meant by 'Quality' in Child Care?" outlines nine components of child care quality, including good health, nutrition and safety practices, high staff-child ratios, and cultural and ethnic sensitivity. Also considered is the topic of children with special needs. Discussion of the question, "What Does the Research Tell Us?" covers recent studies that attempt to measure the effects of quality in child care, parents' attitudes about desirable program characteristics, the quality of service currently available, and the cost of high quality child care. The section titled "How Can Quality in Child Care Be Assured and Encouraged?" provides a history of federal, state, and local regulations, and reviews new national standards. The final section addresses "Nonregulatory Strategies," such as program accreditation, child care teacher education and training, resource and referral agencies for parents as consumers, increases in child care workers' salaries, and the legitimization of family day care. A total of 29 references, and information on 10 organizational resources, are included in the final 2 sections. (AC)