Goal 1 of the 6 national education goals established by President Bush and the nation's governors states that by the year 2000, all children in America will start school ready to learn. This document provides schools and communities with information about what children need to be able to start school ready to learn and gives examples of communities' efforts to meet Goal 1. Answers to commonly asked questions about Goal 1 are presented. Questions and answers relate to: (1) the definition of "school readiness"; (2) types of home activities that promote school readiness; (3) characteristics of effective readiness programs; (4) difficulties of preparing children for school; (5) parent education; (6) characteristics of preschoolers' development; (7) assessment of preschoolers; (8) indicators of community needs that are related to children; (9) the effectiveness of preschool programs; (10) difficulties parents face when dealing with schools; (11) prenatal, nutritional, health, and social service programs; (12) ways of ensuring that children receive all the services they need; (13) ways for communities to determine their needs in relation to meeting Goal 1; (14) the readiness of schools to meet the needs of children; (15) ways private businesses can help communities support their children's school readiness; and (16) funds available to support readiness activities. Appendices list sources of information on Goal 1; examples of effective readiness programs; examples of private sector assistance to promote children's school readiness; federal grant programs; and regional representatives of the United States Department of Education. (BC)