This short paper will provide some thoughts about the various public policy initiatives/systems to improve early care and education, such as licensing, Head Start, Pre-K, QRIS, accreditation, and professional development and their potential impact on child outcomes. Early care and education is at a major crossroads as a profession in attempting to determine which quality initiatives have the greatest impact on children. Results are starting to come in from early studies which may provide some guidance as policy makers begin making decisions about where to focus their limited funding resources. (author abstract)