An Early Childhood Integrated Data System (ECIDS) collects, integrates, maintains, stores, and reports information from early childhood programs across multiple agencies within a state that serve children and families from birth to age eight. The state’s early childhood leadership team should define the mission and drive the specific purpose(s) of the ECIDS in support of the state’s goals and to meet the information needs of their intended users. As states get to the point where they need to start to translate their mission or vision statement into system requirements, the following key considerations for each model should be carefully considered. (author abstract)