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Division for Early Childhood -
Your Professional Home.

DEC Vision & Mission

To cultivate a society where inclusion and belonging is a lived reality for young children and their families across a diverse diaspora that embraces, celebrates, and empowers them to be actively engaged in their communities.​ 
 
It is the collective responsibility of the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children to center the needs and realities of those who are most negatively impacted by systemic inequity. We advance and shape leadership, research, policy, and practice that supports, engages, and informs those who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children with or at risk for developmental delays and disabilities. DEC works to identify, interrogate, and dismantle systemic inequities so that young children and their families thrive.

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News

Racial Equity Point of View

The Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children (DEC) has made a commitment to advancing racial equity through its culture and its work. 

The DEC Racial Equity Point of View (RE POV) is both actual and aspirational. DEC is committed to realizing all of what is outlined in the RE POV, and acknowledges that it will take time, resources, and persistence to advance its strategies and live fully into its foundational principles.

The RE POV states with directness and clarity our case for centering racial equity, our principal constituencies and partners, our foundational principles, our strategies for advancing racial equity, and our accountability to this orientation for the lifetime of our work. 

Support a Brighter Future for Every Child

When you give to the Division for Early Childhood, you’re investing in a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Crawling Baby

Recent DEC Highlights

DEC Board Statement

on the Racial Equity Point of View and Commitments. 

Learn more.

EI/ECSE Standards

These represent the first standards to focus on the preparation of professionals who work with. . . Learn more.

DEC RP Revision

We are reviewing the DEC RP's with a focus on race and ability to explore their effectiveness and how. . . Learn more.

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