The purpose of this background report is to summarize what we learned from one-on-one interviews with national and state experts and reviews of documents. In the report, we provide background about the current context affecting state leaders’ ability to access and strategically use federal funds for ECE programs and systems; summarize the challenges states face in accessing federal funds for ECE programs and systems; and present promising approaches to addressing the challenges of accessing typical, one-time, and atypical federal funds for ECE programs and systems. The heart of this report is findings from interviews with national and state experts and our reviews of related documents. We identify challenges in four key areas and summarize the experts’ recommendations. We then present conclusions and implications. (author abstract)