Based on the view that a well-prepared teacher is one of the keys to young children's successful learning and development in early childhood settings, this book examines the nature and content of current early childhood professional preparation programs at the preservice level, describes high quality early childhood professional preparation, and examines the future for professional preparation at the baccalaureate level in early childhood education. The introduction, by Diane Horm-Wingerd, Marilou Hyson, and Naomi Karp, details the background for this book and identifies essentials for excellence in early childhood teacher preparation. The chapters are: (1) "The State of the Art in Early Childhood Professional Preparation" (Joan P. Isenberg); (2) "Preparing Early Childhood Professionals To Work with Families" (Douglas R. Powell); (3) "Preparing Early Childhood Educators To Work with Children Who Have Exceptional Needs" (Patricia Miller, Lora Fader, and Lisbeth J. Vincent); (4) "The Preparation of Early Childhood Education Teachers To Serve English Language Learners" (Millicent I. Kushner and Alba A. Ortiz); and (5) "Career Pathways in Ohio's Early Childhood Professional Community: Linking Systems of Preparation Inside and Outside of Higher Education" (Rebecca Kantor, David E. Fernie, James A. Scott, Jr., and Marce Verzaro-O'Brien). Each of the chapters considers pertinent issues, describes exemplary models, discusses barriers and how they have been overcome, makes recommendations for progress over the next 5 years, and examines future research directions and implications for policy and practice. Each chapter contains references. (KB)