While research on early childhood programs and policies has led to an increased awareness of the potential benefits of quality early childhood education programs and their cost-effectiveness, access remains quite uneven. Accessibility to early childhood programs over time has developed into a complex system of funding streams, programs, and forms of delivery that vary greatly across the country. Access and access to quality are central issues very much present in relation to early childhood education. Children under the age of 5 may be enrolled in child care, Head Start, Early Head Start, preschool, or a home day care program. Programs are either federally funded, state funded, or locally funded. However, there is little to be said about the overall quality of programs, with the majority ...