This practical and leading text offers a solid overview of what is involved in carefully planning and running quality early childhood programs. Coverage is organized to illustrate, step-by-step, the way directors of early childhood programs must approach their role; examining, in turn, planning , operationalizing, and implementing high-quality programs for all young children. The authors believe that the lack of real quality in today's early childhood programs should be of paramount concern to future administrators, and so have created a text that will aid them in the initial planning of quality programs and serve as a helpful resource once programs are underway.