The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) are pleased to share Early Childhood Inclusion - A Joint Position Statement of the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Early childhood inclusion refers to the rightful presence of each and every young child with a disability and their families in all early childhood education (ECE) environments

A Resource for the Initial Practice-Based Professional Preparation Standards for the Early Interventionists/Early Childhood Special Educators (EI/ECSE) (Initial birth through age 8) Purpose of the Reflective Action Planning Tool This tool is designed to promote increased awareness, understanding, and application of the EI/ECSE Standards. It is intended to guide reflective practice and professional growth related to the knowledge and skills expected of EI/ECSE professionals.

Your comprehensive source for the latest DEC policy news, federal updates, action alerts, and advocacy resources. October 2026 October 7th, 2026 | DEC Urges HHS to Withdraw Proposed Head Start Rule and Preserve Protections for Children with Disabilities; 40,087 Comments Submitted from Organizations Across the US From DEC Executive Director Peggy Kemp, PhD: Thank you for your advocacy! 40,087 comments were submitted on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) “Reducing Federal

The DREAM Center Fellows Program is a 9–12 month mentored fellowship designed for early-career faculty in early intervention, early childhood special education, special education, and related services who are interested in strengthening their leadership, grant development, and personnel preparation expertise. Fellows will receive 1:1 mentorship and individualized technical assistance, engage in hands-on grant and program development experiences, participate in a collaborative

Journal of Early Intervention (JEI)-Young Exceptional Children (YEC) Joint Issue: Promoting Equity and Inclusive Education by Addressing the Research-to-Practice Gap Promoting equity and inclusive practices and policies have been enduring values in early intervention and early childhood special education (EI/ECSE). While advancements have been made in these areas, the field has faced various challenges that have undermined these commitments. One such challenge has been transl

Curious about leadership opportunities with the Division for Early Childhood? Join DEC Executive Board for Leadership Grows Here, a series of Coffee Chats exploring ways to get involved and grow as a leader. Each discussion topic has a Tuesday evening chat and a Thursday afternoon chat. Choose the session that works for you. All times are Eastern. Register for the DEC Coffee Chats on Zoom. Topic Tuesday, 7–8 p.m. Eastern Time Thursday, 2–3 p.m. Eastern Time Demystifying DEC

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026, 4:00 PM Eastern Time - Register here. Join the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) and the Council for Exceptional Children for a webinar about the revision of the DEC Initial Practice-Based Professional Preparation Standards for Early Interventionists/Early Childhood Special Educators. Presenters will explain why the standards are being reviewed, describe the revision timeline, and share how research, expertise, family perspectives, and the earl

Are you a student in a program for Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education? Join us for these upcoming events! Doctoral Students: Put the EI/ECSE Standards to Work for You Tuesday, September 29th, 2026, 3:00–4:30 PM Eastern Time - Register here. You are preparing to shape the future of early intervention and early childhood special education. The EI/ECSE Standards can help you get there. Part 1 | 3:00-4:00 PM What Are the EI/ECSE Standards—and What Can They Do fo

Service Coordination in Action: Strengthening Families, Supporting Dreams May 16th, 2027, 10:30 AM–4:30 PM Eastern Time on Zoom Events The DEC EI SC Virtual Institute is designed to bring together service coordinators, supervisors, leaders, providers, family members, and community partners to share practical strategies, lived experiences, reflective practices, and innovative approaches that strengthen outcomes for children and families. Please note that this institute’s audie

Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin, Baylor University, and the University of Maryland are recruiting caregivers of children ages 1–5 who are waiting for autism-related services (e.g., diagnostic evaluation, ABA, or early intervention) for the MENU research study (Modular Approach to Evidence-Based Practices for Newly Referred Underserved Families). The purpose of this study is to develop and test a flexible, family-centered program designed to support caregiver