This report explores ways in which family support and education programs targeted to families with preschool-age children fit within schools, or more specifically, within local community education programs. The issue was examined by means of: (1) an in-depth field study of the Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) initiative at 9 local sites in Minnesota; and (2) a survey of 12 family support and education programs in other states. Both methods of research addressed the issue of community education as the context for family support and education programs, and examined the benefits of such arrangements and the feasibility of more widespread use of the arrangements. An introduction in Chapter I is followed in Chapter II by a summary of the current scope and operation of ECFE in Minnesota and a consideration of factors of design, context, and management that affect local program implementation. Chapter III describes the benefits of basing the ECFE initiative within community education and assesses the degree to which findings in Minnesota may be generalized to local community education-based family support and education programs across the U.S. Conclusions are advanced in Chapter IV. Individual profiles of the 21 local sites studied are included in appendices, as are tables, figures, and other materials. Approximately 50 references are cited. (RH)