The purpose of this needs assessment is to inform the Massachusetts Board of Early Education and Care (EEC) of the resources that will best serve families and communities in supporting the holistic development of children, youth, and families. The goal is to design two study models for identifying the needs of young children, birth to age eight, and assessing the quality and availability of early childhood education and development programs and services for children from birth to school entry. These study models will serve as the basis for a tri-annual needs assessment that the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care intends to conduct beginning in Fiscal Year 2012.