The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) maintains that it should be the goal of all educators and policymakers to understand, support, and facilitate the transition of children and youth with disabilities to post-school life. This includes supporting children and youth to achieve their respective goals regarding postsecondary education and…

The members of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) strongly advocate that all professionals must come prepared and continue to develop through ongoing professional learning opportunities the skills necessary to promote the meaningful and appropriate participation of children and youth with exceptionalities in schools and community-based…

School board members encounter a range of challenging issues as they provide oversight and strategic guidance for the school districts they represent. Some of the most daunting challenges can involve the education of students with disabilities. All children eligible for special education must be provided with a free and appropriate public…

This book follows a special education student through her entire education program. The case study provides readers the relevant information to complete special education documents beginning with the Individualized Family and Service Plan (IFSP) and ending with the Transition Plan. This book was created for anyone wanting to practice writing an…

As advocates for children and youth with exceptionalities, the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) believes that strong public education systems are necessary to ensure the promise of a free appropriate public education (FAPE) guaranteed by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 2004. This position statement presents the…

This special issue provides an in-depth examination of dyslexia. Articles address current research on dyslexia, unique considerations related to eligibility for special education services, strategies and approaches to instruction, and assistive technology. It includes a quiz entitled, "What Do You Know About Dyslexia?"

The "Handbook of Leadership and Administration for Special Education" brings together research informing practice in leading special education from preschool through transition into postsecondary settings. The second edition of this comprehensive handbook has been fully updated to provide coverage of disability policy, historical roots,…

The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) considers high-quality personnel preparation to be essential to positive outcomes for young children birth through age 8 who are at risk for or with developmental delays/disabilities and their families. Recognizing the centrality of quality personnel preparation,…

In early care and education, a multitiered system of support (MTSS) framework is a way to provide high-quality teaching and responsive caregiving through the delivery of differentiated support for all young children. In an early childhood MTSS framework, the needs of every child, regardless of ability, eligibility status, cultural and linguistic…

The early childhood period from birth to age 8 is an exciting one for growth, development, and learning. It is when children begin to develop social-emotional competence, and it is also a time when children's emerging skills may result in behaviors adults and peers find challenging. It is important that adults who care for and teach young children…

Young children, especially those with disabilities, are disproportionately affected by abuse, neglect, and trauma. For the first time, the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) is providing guidance on how the field can prevent and reduce instances of maltreatment as well as how to intervene to support young children with disabilities and their…

The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) recognizes the impact that Response to Intervention (RTI) can have on the education of all children, roles of special educators, and the special education system. The RTI process is designed to identify struggling learners early, to provide access to needed interventions, and to help identify children…

The Code of Ethics of the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children is a public statement of principles and practice guidelines supported by the mission of DEC. The foundation of this Code is based on sound ethical reasoning related to professional practice with young children with disabilities and their families…

This concept paper was developed to address policies and practices for using developmental delay as a category of eligibility for young children. These policies and practices have evolved in response to changes in federal legislation and recommended practices in the field of early intervention and early childhood special education. The purpose of…

Recent mandates related to the implementation of evidence-based practices for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) require that autism professionals both understand and are able to implement practices based on the science of applied behavior analysis (ABA). The use of the term "applied behavior analysis" and its related concepts…