State early childhood administrators are planning to strategically invest the federal appropriations in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) to address disruptions in children’s care and learning due to the pandemic. State leaders must consider how this one-time funding can be used effectively while understanding the context around sustainability of programs and usage after these funds end. Keeping these issues in mind, it is critically important for this funding to be targeted to children in the early years (birth through Grade 3) to pave the way for longer-term solutions to support school readiness and healthy development. (author abstract)