The Southern Institute has commissioned the Center for Law and Social Policy to examine whether federal law prevents states from adopting coordinated child absence policies for their Head Start and CCDF/TANF-funded (Child Care and Development Fund/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) child care collaborative projects. The issue relates to one of a set of policies that must be examined by state policymakers when designing such collaborations. This report first analyzes the statutory and regulatory provisions relevant to child absence policies in Head Start and in child care funded under the CCDF and TANF bock block grants. Next, the report discusses some practical considerations for states interested in adopting coordinated absence policies. The principal conclusions are as follows: (1) a Head Start grantee's funding for a slot is not reduced when a child is absent, but four consecutive unexcused absences oblige the grantee to examine the family's circumstances; (2) for CCDF- or TANF-funded child care, a state may, but need not, limit provider payments to those days in which a child is in attendance; (3) nothing in federal law prevents a state from implementing a child care payment structure in which a provider is paid so long as a slot is available, in which the provider is obligated to inform the state of excessive unexcused absences, and the state may review eligibility if a child's absences exceed a specified reasonable number. The report's appendix provides additional detail about current law and examples of current absence policy practices in Southern U.S. states. (Contains 35 footnotes.) (Author/HTH)