The Regents' Center for Early Developmental Education (University of Northern Iowa) focuses efforts on improving early childhood education (birth through 8 years) in Iowa by supporting educational efforts that emphasize children's interests, experimentation, and cooperation. In recent years, educational reform initiatives have targeted programs for 4-year-olds and younger elementary-aged children. The Regents' Center initiated a comprehensive needs assessment study of early education in Iowa in 1994. Surveys focused on program characteristics such as enrollment, instructional arrangements, staffing, teacher qualifications, parent participation, and other issues relating to program implementation. This report presents findings from Phase One, and consists of survey results from districts, elementary schools, elementary school principals, and teachers in 4-year-old, kindergarten, and first-grade programs. Preliminary findings of the surveys indicate that Iowa educators are receptive to the implementation of developmentally appropriate practices. Preliminary recommendations focus on further training in implementation of developmentally appropriate practices, and the need for state and local policies to support implementation of developmentally appropriate practices. (Author/SD)