The mission of the National Prekindergarten Center (NPC) was to help local, state, and federal leaders develop and implement high quality prekindergarten programs through research, policy analysis, communication, and technical assistance. Three areas of particular interest for NPC were finance, professional development, and governance.

Activities included developing a prekindergarten framework; surveying states' progress toward implementing universal, voluntary prekindergarten; and sponsoring a working symposium to develop promising strategies for meeting the need for highly qualified prekindergarten teachers. NPC also worked to build strategic partnerships among various organizations that address prekindergarten issues.