Interviews on the quality of day care in the United States are presented in this transcript of a program broadcast in the National Public Radio weekly series, "Options in Education." Writers, day care center personnel and others describe and evaluate the current situation. Federal legislation concerning children is examined, and researchers discuss effects of day care programs on children. Jane Gold, author of "Checking Out Childcare", describes the child care business, its dimensions and licensing practices. Peggy Pizzo, author of "Infant Child Care Debate", discusses parents' guilt feelings in relation to outside child care. Advantages and disadvantages of public school sponsorship of day care are considered. Despite support for day care centers and child care in the public schools, the fastest and most widely used form of child care appears to be home care. Psychologist Jerome Kagan has found home care, inside or outside the child's home, to be preferred over day care centers by most parents. He considers staff-child ratio the most important factor in day care quality, recommending ratios of 3 to 1 for children under 18 months and 6 to 1 for children 18 months to three years. A family home care teacher-trainer is interviewed on the advantages of the family-home environment. The director of a large day care center tells of long waiting lists and the social costs involved. The Federal role in preschool education, including prospects for comprehensive Federal child care legislation, are discussed by Congressman John Brademas and representatives of various child care interest groups. The staffing-ratio controversy is discussed. (Author/BF)