Although early care and education have gained some momentum in recent years, shortfalls in quality are still pervasive. This book defines the elements of a high-quality system and suggests strategies for improvement. Frontmatter includes a preface, editors' and contributors' biographies, and an introduction entitled "The Changing Context of American Early Care and Education" (Sharon L. Kagan and others). The first part of the book, "Quality Programs: The Case for an Expanded Definition," contains four chapters: (1) "Parents' Perspectives on Quality in Early Care and Education" (Mary Larner); (2) "Reframing the Quality Issue" (Deborah Phillips); (3) "International Approaches to Defining Quality" (Jennifer Bush and Deborah Phillips); and (4) "Multicultural Perspectives on Quality" (Nancy E. Cohen and Delia Pompa). The second part, "The Infrastructure: The Case for a Quality System," contains six chapters: (1) "Licensing: Lessons from Other Occupations" (Anne Mitchell); (2) "Training and Professional Development: International Approaches" (Eliza Pritchard); (3) "Regulation: Alternative Approaches from Other Fields" (Katherine L. Scurria); (4) "Governance: Child Care, Federalism, and Public Policy" (William T. Gormley, Jr.); (5) "Funding and Financing: Moving toward a More Universal System" (Martin H. Gerry); and (6) "Quality Infrastructure for Family Child Care" (Shelby M. Miller). The third part, "Implementing Change," contains five chapters: (1) "Media and Mass Communications Strategies" (Kathy Bonk and Meredith Wiley); (2) "Citizen Participation: Transforming Access into Influence" (Christopher Howard); (3) "Organizing Communities and Constituents for Change" (Ernesto Cortes, Jr.); (4) "Understanding the Complexities of Educational Change" (Ann Lieberman and others); and (5) "The Synchrony of Stakeholders: Lessons from the Disabilities Rights Movement" (H. Rutherford Turnbull and Ann P. Turnbull). The fourth part, "Creating a Quality Early Care and Education System," contains two chapters: (1) "A Vision for a Quality Early Care and Education System" (Sharon L. Kagan and Nancy E. Cohen); and (2) "Getting from Here to There: The Process and the Players" (Nancy E. Cohen and Sharon L. Kagan). Each chapter contains references. (LPP)