This project will provide an analysis of the alignment and cohesion between the federal CCDF policy guidance and state-level policy actors. Specifically, the project will assess the vertical alignment of state CCDF plans with the federal guidance on key policy components for preventing exclusion through suspension and expulsion, vertical alignment of the state CCDF plan with state child care licensing policy, state Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) standards, and state Pre-K policies; and horizontal cohesion across the state-level units.