The papers in this volume join other commentators in noting the marked gaps in research on Indian Education. Regardless of the logistic, cultural, and other challenges that may be to some degree responsible for this gap, the lack of research-based knowledge in this area is to the detriment of Indian educators and the Indian communities within which they work. The absence of research, however, is not due to a lack of important unanswered questions. The National Center for Rural Early Childhood Learning Initiatives, known as Rural Early Childhood; Penn State's American Indian Leadership Program (AILP); and Penn State's Center for Rural Education and Communities (CREC) in 2004 began discussing what might be done to address these research needs and gaps, particularly with regards to early childhood education and educational leadership. Their discussions resulted in the convening of an "experts" conference, the "Rural Early Childhood Forum on Native American and Alaska Native Early Learning," of which this proceeding is one result. The forum was comprised of academic researchers and faculty, Native educators, Native early childhood education specialists, and community leaders with a strong interest in and concern for rural Indian early childhood education. The purpose was to, first, assess the current state of rural Indian early childhood education, with an emphasis on the years prior to formal school entry, as well as educational leadership as it pertains to rural Indian early childhood education; and second, to discuss how research might be initiated that would help to fulfill the goals of the research agenda. The Introduction (authored by Kai A. Schafft, Susan C. Faircloth, and Nicole L. Thompson) introduces the papers herein and summarizes the state of the knowledge on rural early childhood education as it concerns American Indian and Alaska Native children. Papers published in these proceedings include: (1) Early Childhood Educational Opportunities for American Indian and Alaska Native Children and Families (Tarajean Yazzie-Mintz); (2) The Health and Development of American Indian and Alaska Native Children in Relationship to Reservation and Rural/Urban Residence (Laurel S. Endfield); (3) Effective Early Education Programs that Promote the Learning of the English Language and Tribal Languages and Cultures (Nila M. Rinehart); (4) Transitions of American Indian and Alaska Native Children from Pre-school to Kindergarten (Cheryl Clay); (5) American Indian and Alaska Native School Readiness (Nicole L. Thompson, Margaret A. Pope, and Jeanne Holland); (6) Young American Indian/Alaskan Native Children with Disabilities: Implications for Policy, Research, and Practice (Susan C. Faircloth); (7) American Indian and Alaska Native Early Childhood Family Involvement: A Review of the Literature (SusanRae Banks-Joseph and Laurie D. McCubbin); and (8) School Leaders (Roger Bordeaux). (Individual papers contain references.) [This document was produced by the National Center for Rural Early Childhood Learning Initiatives, Mississippi State University Early Childhood Institute. The proceedings were sponsored by The National Center for Rural Early Childhood Learning Initiatives; and The American Indian Leadership Program, The Center on Rural Education and Communities, Pennsylvania State University. The Southwestern Electric Power Company was a co-sponsor.]