This document summarizes the proceedings of Head Start's Sixth National Research Conference on early childhood and family research. The first part of these proceedings compiles presentations from special sessions, including plenary sessions on promoting young childrens eagerness to learn in educational settings, self-regulation, and policies and programs that support families with children from birth to three. Presentations at the conference consisted of reports of research, literature reviews, and commentaries on research and practice in Head Start and Early Head Start. The next section of the proceedings recounts symposia, roundtables, and conversation hours, which addressed topics relating to: (1) research funded by the Administration on Children and Families, including the Family and Child Experiences Survey, Head Start Quality Research Centers, the Head Start Mental Health Research Consortium, and the National Evaluation of Early Head Start; (2) child development; (3) children with special needs and disabilities; (4) consequences of welfare reform; (5) early childhood assessment and outcomes; (6) language, literacy, and early learning; (7) parenting/families; (8) quality early education and child care; (9) quality health care; and (10) student programming. The third section of the proceedings summarizes the poster sessions. Topics included assessment/diagnosis, behavioral issues, child care, community resources, disabilities, bilingual issues, family functioning, fatherhood, infant/toddler programs, language development and early literacy, mental health intervention and services, instrument development, Native American issues, normal child development, parent involvement in childrens education, parenting styles, school achievement, and professional development. Appendices include lists of cooperating organizations, the program committee, and peer reviewers, as well as a directory of presenters and a subject index. (KB)