The authors of this practical timely work maintain that the public schools can and should play a role in delivering both a good educational start and high-quality care to young children. Addressed to a wide readership including federal and state legislators state commissioners of social services and education policy planners education and advocacy organizations and public school administrators this book focuses on the major contemporary child care issues in a readable understandable format. It will by virtue of its breadth and authority change the way those in the field perceive and respond to the critical and sensitive problems of early care.