Are the five states that are participating in the Great Start project, in fact, off to a Great Start? The simple answer from a casual read of this excellent case study appears to be "yes." Any early learning initiative that begins with a scientific evaluation is off to a great start. Sadly, some public and private funders have begun early learning investments with the best intentions, and then years later cannot validly support any progress other than anecdotal evidence. In this article, the author raises the three questions people need to consider when looking at an initiative like Great Start. First, what are the ultimate outcomes people are trying to achieve? Second, what is their theory of action to accomplish those outcomes? And finally, do they have the resources to accomplish the outcomes? The author also recommends a Phase 2 process that redoubles its efforts to leverage the earlier groundwork in Phase 1 of the Great Start project.