This paper discusses present child care provision for children of preschool age in the United States. After a brief historical preface that points out deficits and needed improvements in public school and infant programs, the discussion focuses on several aspects of established programs for 3- to 5-year-old children. In particular, research findings indicate that preschool intervention is both cost efficient and beneficial to the child and its family. Evidence shows that family care is in no way inferior to center care. Yet, despite many practical disadvantages of center care (i.e., building and administrative costs, distance from children's homes), it receives 80% of Federal day care support. A system that combines advantages of both kinds of care could be developed by linking day care centers serving as training and resource facilities to a large number of day care homes. Such a system could be started in any community with existing facilities, and would be a cost-effective way to expand services. Precisely how many children need day care is not known, but the figure may be close to 20 million. An estimated $3,500 per child per year would cover program costs and increase caregivers' salaries to a level sufficient to reduce staff turnover. Increased expenditure for day care is also required to provide a base from which operators of facilities can begin to meet, not ignore, state and federal standards. (Author/RH)