Noting that growing consensus about the importance of the first 5 years of life has prompted in-depth considerations about the systemic quality of early care and education in the United States, this issue of "State Education Leader" examines various aspects of early learning. Topics considered in this issue are: (1) key issues in financing early care and education; (2) leadership in early care and education; (3) educational technology in early care and education; (4) creating an integral system of governance of early care and education; (5) teaching quality; (6) the movement toward a seamless "P-16" educational system from preschool to postsecondary education in Illinois; (7) determining school readiness; and (8) the Early Learning Initiative of the Education Commission of the States. (KB)