This paper aims to provide a starting point by exploring how we ended up where we are today. It traces our evolving approach to early childhood care and education, sketching a brief, broad history of the three major federal funding streams: the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Head Start. Why are these our three major funding streams? Where did they come from? What does their history tell us about how to move forward? (author abstract)