A review of current federal programs related to child development is presented in the form of description and analysis of research in fiscal year 1971. Research and developmental plans for fiscal year 1973 are also described with recommendations for the future. Eleven federal early childhood research agencies supported 700 projects in fiscal 1971 with over $88 million. Most of the agencies did most of their work in applied research. Agencies involved were National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; National Institute of Mental Health; Maternal and Child Health Services; Community Services Administration; National Center for Educational Research and Development; Bureau of Education for the Handicapped; Bureau of Elementary and Secondary Education; Bureau of Educational Personnel Development; Office of the Secretary for Planning and Evaluation; and Office of Economic Opportunity. Chapter One is a survey of present knowledge and questions concerning early childhood research and development. Chapter Two gives a description of research in fiscal 1971, giving areas and kinds of research. In the last part the funding, purposes, research areas and kinds of research for each agency are presented. Chapter Three describes research plans for fiscal year 1973. (DJ)