This paper highlights research into the positive possibilities for children in school and life when they have access to high-quality care and education before entering public school. Three key components of early care and education are discussed in the paper. The first, quality in early care and education, addresses: (1) What is high quality and why does it matter? (2) What quality of care do most children currently receive? and (3) What are the connections between quality and the compensation and training of child care workers? The second section, on access and financing, asks: (1) How are early care and education services currently financed and how does financing affect access to services? (2) What are options for reforming the financing of early care and education to provide universal, high-quality services? and (3) What financing strategies are states and localities currently using to expand access to high-quality early care and education services or to improve the quality of existing programs? The third section discusses roles for public schools in supporting and building on high-quality early care and education. This section addresses: (1) How might schools expand their role as providers of early care and education services? and (2) How can schools build on high-quality early care and education services through transition services and supports? (Contains 82 references.) (EV)