This paper provides a picture of early childhood education and care (ECEC) in the countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), primarily Europe and North America. The paper's main objective is to present an overview of the major policies and programs in these countries, and to classify them by their most salient characteristics. A secondary objective is to document the quantity and quality of care provided. The paper begins by defining the terms of discussion of ECEC internationally, and follows with a brief description of the historical context in which ECEC policies and programs have evolved in the advanced and industrialized countries. The paper then lays out the policy and program choices that have been made regarding ECEC for young children. The paper's fourth section presents a discussion of the different models that have emerged across the countries, reflecting alternative policy strategies and approaches to delivering ECEC, and illustrating how different countries have "packaged" these strategies. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of trends and emerging issues. (Contains 26 references.) (EV)