This handbook describes ways that families, schools, and child-care centers can work together to achieve Vermont's state goals for early childhood education. The following topics are presented: (1) the goals and principles guiding Vermont's early education program; (2) the role of kindergarten in a child's educational career; (3) the need to shift the emphasis of the primary curriculum so that it focuses on higher expectations, concept learning, and an orientation to child development; (4) how to organize schools for child development; (5) how to create a developmental environment for three to four year olds who spend part of their day with a caretaker other than their parents; (6) the role of parents in their child's development and ways they can provide support to teachers; and (7) five steps a community can follow when implementing an early childhood education program. The appendices include: community self-assessment checklists; "The Research Background for Early Childhood Education," a report compiled from three areas of early education study; and the names and locations of existing projects and resources. (JW)