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This report synthesizes information from public record documents and comments from Early/Head Start program directors and activities from the Illinois Head Start Collaboration Office. Data were obtained from more than 101 mail survey responses from early childhood providers, 38 phone narrative/anecdotal surveys, more than 50 telephone surveys, and 7 "spotlight"interviews. The report is organized in seven sections. Section 1 provides a history and description of the development and make-up of collaborative arrangements used in Illinois Early/Head Start programs to provide services to low-income families. Section 2 describes current efforts to support and expand early care and education collaboration and to improve and sustain quality. Section 3 presents interviews with representatives of seven Early/Head Start educational partnerships describing the development of the partnerships and their effect on services. Section 4 summarizes mail and telephone survey data on the status of collaboration with Early/Head Start in Illinois, including collaborative arrangements, program options, funding sources, and enrollment figures. Section 5 examines the benefits and challenges of collaboration, program challenges, and activities to assure quality services. Section 6 presents a history of the Illinois Department of Human Services Head Start State Collaboration Office, including an overview of its accomplishments in the first 5-year period. Section 7 offers conclusions about the status of collaboration in Illinois and makes recommendations for improvements. Four appendices include a map and listing of Illinois Early/Head Start grantee agencies and a listing of collaboration office activities. (KB)