Join the Division for Early Childhood for an overview of the progress and future direction of the “Be Part of EI” campaign on Friday, March 13th, 2026 at 12:30 PM Eastern Time. Register here to attend. This session will introduce opportunities for a grassroots, crowd-sharing approach to strengthening awareness and encouraging engagement. Together, we will explore: What we can accomplish collectively! How we can pool our resources, share our stories, and influence others! Ho

Save the Date for the DEC Virtual Institutes! Download the flyer here.

The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) invites practitioners, researchers, faculty, family members, and community partners to express interest in facilitating professional development opportunities in 2026. DEC is currently recruiting volunteers who are interested in sharing their wisdom, lived experience, and expertise with the early childhood special education and early intervention community. Facilitator opportunities include pre-conference workshops and hot topic sessions

DEC Talks, the podcast from the Division for Early Childhood, brings you thoughtful conversations on inclusion in early childhood, early intervention, and early childhood special education. Each episode features stories from the field, expert insights, and reflections from leaders and practitioners who are shaping more equitable systems for infants, toddlers, young children and their families. In this episode of DEC Talks, The Power of the “Why” in Inclusive Early Childhood ,

Young Children Deserve to Be Safe - Addressing the implications of enhanced immigration enforcement actions within our communities The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is an international professional organization dedicated to advancing equity and supporting families, young children with or at risk for developmental delays and disabilities, and those who care for and educate them. At the heart of DEC’s work is a collective resp

The Division for Early Childhood is honored to highlight the NAEYC 2026 Public Policy Forum . As long term partners in our joint mission to support each and every child and their families, we encourage you to join the Forum as a representative for your state of both DEC and NAEYC. How? Register for the Forum and you will be connected to the team of other advocates and partners in your state for the NAEYC 2026 Policy Forum. You must be a NAEYC member to register. Why? Increa

Join DEC and your fellow community members for DEC Coffee Chats Policy and Advocacy Special Edition - Tuesdays and Thursdays every other week January through June 2026! We will discuss current policy issues and share resources. Each chat will begin with 20-30 minutes of federal updates followed by time for you to connect with your peers. Members and non-members alike are welcome to attend! DEC Coffee and Policy Chats are not recorded to help facilitate a space for open discus

Tuesday, January 27th, 5:00 PM Eastern Time - Register here. Join us as we discuss the activities completed in the first session of the 119th Congress and plans for the second session of this Congress. Topics to be addressed include updates on federal funding for the current year as well as updates on administration activities. Implications for initiatives related to families, children with disabilities, Head Start, child care and other early learning and education priorities

DEC and CEC are preparing to review the Initial Early Interventionist/Early Childhood Special Educator Professional Preparation Standards (EI/ECSE Standards) for birth through 8 years. Would you like to be a part of this process? If so, DEC and CEC are currently seeking volunteers to serve on the EI/ECSE Standards Revision Workgroup. This group will be charged with reviewing and recommending revisions to the EI/ECSE Standards and preparing additional resources and guidance

DEC congratulates the 2025 DEC Journal of Early Intervention Reviewer of the Year, Sondra M. Stegenga! The Reviewer of the Year Award recognizes a Journal of Early Intervention (JEI) reviewer whose work reflects exceptional rigor, clarity, and commitment to equity in early intervention and early childhood special education. This reviewer provides thorough, constructive feedback that highlights strengths, identifies meaningful opportunities for improvement, and upholds COPE’s