This article focuses on the importance of school readiness to school success and long-term life success. Issues relating to school readiness include what constitutes readiness, types of fundamental knowledge, how children approach learning, children's mental and physical health, and how readiness is defined. The article first examines what is really meant by readiness and then discusses how readiness should be implemented, considering the serious issues associated with such implementation. It is suggested that readiness must be defined broadly, and relatedly, there must be broad and shared responsibility for its implementation. The chapter urges the acceptance of the National Education Goals Panel (NEGP) definition of readiness, and that readiness be the responsibility of families and an array of institutions including early care and education, family support, schools, and communities. Building on this discussion, policy recommendations are offered to be considered for inclusion in Healthy People 2010. These include: (1) giving more attention to children and the importance of the early years before school; (2) conceptualizing readiness as children's readiness, family readiness, school readiness, and community readiness; (3) generating adequate assessment systems for children, schools, and communities; and (4) considering children and families holistically. Contains over 80 references. (SD)