There is an increasing demand for expanded services for preschool children. Attention is now focused on many issues related to the goals and content of such programs, including appropriate settings and age of populations served. In the past, U.S. programs for children of preschool age have included kindergartens stressing educational development, nursery schools stressing overall development, and day care centers largely offering custodial care. Current programs include Head Start, kindergartens, and licensed and unlicensed private programs. Public pressure to increase federally supported early childhood programs comes from a number of sources, such as teachers' unions, working mothers, and women's groups. Key issues to dominate the debate over publicly supplied preschool programs include what level of government should set standards, who should sponsor programs, what role should be taken by parents, and what qualifications should be established for personnel. In spite of difficulties in resolving these issues, it is likely that early childhood programs will continue to expand. (Author/JM)