In order to help local school boards develop and implement early childhood programs that best serve families in their communities, this monograph chronicles the world of early childhood programs and examines the role of groups and institutions that serve young children, including the public schools, parents, social service agencies, and business. Chapter 1 describes the diverse system for the delivery of programs to young children in the United States, and the role of local communities in that delivery. Chapter 2 discusses the national education goal of school readiness, examines early childhood initiatives of states and the federal government, and describes the work of national organizations and task forces that have addressed the needs of children and families. The results of research on the impact of early childhood education on children's lives are highlighted in chapter 3. Chapter 4 discusses conditions relevant to shaping effective early childhood programs, which include: (1) providing developmentally appropriate education; (2) encouraging parent involvement and providing family support; (3) integrating services; (4) fostering interagency collaboration; (5) providing for staff development; (6) assessing children appropriately; (7) expanding facilities; and (8) increasing funding. The role of school boards at the local, state, and federal levels is discussed in chapter 5. An appendix contains a 41-item bibliography and a list of organizational resources. (SM)