State boards of education have authority endowed by state constitutions and statutes to position them as key players in improving early education. Recognizing the importance of early childhood education (ECE), federal and state governments have been investing billions of dollars to serve the nation's youngest children. Yet many children still enter elementary school unprepared, and their K-12 schooling largely fails to close those initial gaps. State boards of education have authority that positions them to be key players in improving early education. This National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) Education Leaders Report discusses opportunities for state boards to use this authority to improve ECE policy in their states.