The purpose of this document is to facilitate discussion among decision makers at the Iowa Department of Education (DE), Area Education Agencies (AEAs) and local communities (including school districts) to establish early childhood priorities, and define the AEA role in the statewide efforts to build a strong early care, health, and education system. Such vision and leadership has appropriately fallen on the shoulders of state and local partners. The current challenge is to manage time, personnel, and fiscal resources to create new and better ways of helping more children to begin kindergarten on a trajectory for success. This must start by identifying the most important priorities in early childhood and create a plan for improving the capacity to support children, families, and schools. Appended are: (1) Iowa's Early Care, Health and Education System, June 2003; and (2) Endorsements for Early Care, Health and Education System. [Document prepared by Early Childhood Special Education Leadership Network and the Iowa Department of Education.]