The Division for Early Childhood
The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to supporting families and young children who have or are at risk for developmental delays and disabilities.
The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) was started in 1973 by a group of volunteers who cared deeply about the development of young children with special needs. DEC is one of 17 divisions of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the largest professional organization dedicated to improving the educational success of individuals with disabilities and/or gifts and talents.
DEC continues to grow and advance through the work of each and every one of us. We hope that you find your place in the work—work that must reflect the diversity of our workforce; work that must reflect the diversity of the families and children we serve. There will be many opportunities to get involved! We rely on the expertise of each of you to accomplish the task, to truly promote the policies and evidence-based practices that will make a difference.
We must work together to assure we achieve all that we hope to achieve. Thank for all you do and all you will do! Because it Matters!
Mission Statement
The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) promotes policies and advances evidence-based practices that support families and enhance the optimal development of young children (0-8) who have or are at risk for developmental delays and disabilities.
Guiding DEC
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Priority Issues Agenda - May 2020
The Executive Office, charged by the Executive Board, assures the work, based on the DEC Priority Issues Agenda and DEC Ends, is accomplished through DEC's most significant resource, its volunteer workforce, including the DEC Committees and Communities of Practice. Subdivisions are also a critical component of the organization, serving as state-level ambassadors for the work of DEC: promoting DEC membership, supporting advancement of evidence-based practices, the Recommended Practices, and DEC policy priorities across all states. DEC Executive Board members serve as liaisons to the work in full partnership with the Executive Office and as active members of the work.
Spotlight on DEC Priorities
The DEC's structure finds its roots in alignment with the DEC Priority Issues Agenda. This commitment permeates the work of DEC internally and externally.
As a special interest division of CEC, DEC upholds DEC's policies, in particular, CEC's Commitment to Diversity and CEC's Non Discrimination Policy.
