This book details a study of policy from the perspective of Head Start staff and is written from the perspective of how staff adapted and interpreted program policies. Part 1 of the book describes the focus of the study and background information on Head Start, Hoover Community Action Corporation (study pseudonym), and Wood River Head Start (study pseudonym). The three chapters in this part describe: (1) "Framing the Study"; (2) "The Development of Head Start"; and (3) "Looking at the Hoover Community Action Corporation and Wood River Head Start." Part 2 consists of short stories about the Wood River Head Start program. In between the stories is connecting text discussing how the Head Start staff interpreted and implemented official policies and created policies from practice in relation to the daily activities. The section ends with a reexamination of the research questions raised in chapter 1, and suggests new directions for policy research. The eight chapters in this section include: (4) "The Move to the Early Learning Center"; (5) "Research as Relationship: The Wood River Head Start Families"; (6) "Developing Policies from Practice: The Story of Mark, The Finicky Eater"; (7) "Official Policies and Working Policies"; (8) "Developing Practices and Tiny Tales of Success"; (9) "Establishing Policy Priorities"; (10) "Understanding Policies through Relationships"; and (11) "Conclusion." The book's epilogue describes recent development at Wood River Head Start. (Contains references and an index.) (SD)