Professional Standards
In 1922 the founders of CEC embraced professional standards and ethics for the field of special education. As the recognized leader for special education professional standards, CEC continues to develop standards, ethics and practices, and guidelines to assure that individuals with exceptionalities have well-prepared, career-oriented special educators.
CEC collaborates with other professional organizations to ensure that all educators are well-prepared to support the learning of individuals with exceptionalities and to recruit, retain, and develop well-prepared special educators.
Ethics & Practice Standards
As professionals serving individuals with exceptionalities, special educators possess a special trust endowed by the community and recognized by professional licensure. As such, special educators have a responsibility to be guided by their ethical principles and professional practice standards.
Ethical Principles
Practice Standards
Professional Preparation & Credential Standards
The special education preparation standards are the specialized knowledge and skills that are the foundation of professional preparation and that influence licensure. The standards provide benchmarks to states, provinces, and nations for program accreditation, entry-level licensure, professional practice, and continuing professional growth.
CEC Preparation Program & Credentialing Standards
Program Report Developer Resources
CEC Program Reviewer Training and Resources
CEC Program Recognition Resources
Paraeducator Development Guidelines
For more than 50 years, special education paraeducators have helped special educators provide services to individuals with exceptional learning conditions. Today special education paraeducators are an essential member of the special education team.
The CEC Paraeducator Development Guidelines help paraeducator programs ensure the program addresses nationally validated knowledge and skills for safe and effective practice.
Common Core Standards (references)
Interveners for Individuals with Deafblindness (references)
Evidence-based Practices
CEC Evidence-based Practice Studies are systematic analyses of the research on a practice to determine the quality of the evidence. Learn more about evidence-based practices.
Professional Standards News
MetLife releases 2011 Teacher-Survey 2011.
CEC Seeks to Safeguard Teacher Quality and Valid, Reliable Assessments
The U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee is working right now to mark up the bill and reauthorize ESEA (formerly known as No Child Left Behind). Next, it will begin considering amendments that will have a powerful impact on the future of student access to prepared and effective teachers and valid and reliable assessments. Read CEC's letter to the Senate HELP Committee.
CEC's Proposed Professional Standards Report
CEC is in the process of revising its initial and advanced preparation standards to seven standards and twenty-eight major elements. This structure has been made a requirement by NCATE for all its partner professional associations.
Q&A on Unified Accrediting Body
This Q&A is a progress report as NCATE and TEAC make progress on unification into the new Council for the Accreditation of Education Programs (CAEP).
