Given the importance of the state-federal partnership in ECE, the Bipartisan Policy Center undertook this study to explore whether states, like the federal government, are making progress toward improved integration and governance in ECE programs. This issue is important for two reasons. First, support for early childhood programs can only be sustained if the programs are viewed as effective and efficient in their use of public funds. At a time when demand for ECE services continues to far outpace available resources-in many states, thousands of families who are eligible for Head Start or child care assistance can't access these programs-the case for continued and even expanded investment must be accompanied by a commitment to efficiency, good governance, and a consistent focus on quality assurance and results. Second, and equally important, fragmentation, bureaucratic inefficiency, and lack of coordination in the administration of ECE programs creates real obstacles to access and results in many children-often including those who are already the most vulnerable-missing out on the support they need. When families have to apply to multiple programs, housed across multiple agencies, often with duplicative paperwork requirements and inconsistent eligibility criteria, many simply give up. Thus, the focus on integration and alignment should not be viewed as a mere academic exercise designed to satisfy abstract notions of organizational efficiency. Rather, these issues matter on the ground, in the everyday lives of families with young children who too often have trouble determining what services they might be eligible for, let alone how to go about accessing them. As part of this review, BPC compiled information about each state's specific approaches to organizing, administering, and coordinating ECE programs. (author abstract)