The expansion of Project Head Start in Maine to the point of serving nearly 25 percent of eligible children is detailed in this report. Section I describes the expansion and some of its benefits, such as equalization of services across county boundaries and the establishment of a uniform unit cost-per-child for use in appropriating state funds. Section II reports on preschool legislative and funding actions as of 1985 in several other states. A brief summary of the research supporting increased comprehensive, high quality, early childhood programs for disadvantaged children is provided in section III. In section IV, many direct service and administrative issues faced by the states as they seek to meet the increasingly complex needs of young children and their families are addressed, including Head Start as a model, how early childhood programs should be delivered, day care, salaries and credentials, services to handicapped children, and interagency coordination. Five appendices provide background information about Maine's Head Start appropriation. Appendix 2, Fiscal Year 1985 Head Start Program Final Enrollment Allocation in the State of Maine, is thought to be particularly useful for other states attempting similar actions. (RH)