DEC is Recruiting New Editor(s) for the Journal of Early Intervention (JEI)
The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children is recruiting a new editor(s) for the Journal of Early Intervention (JEI). The new editor(s) will begin a 5-year term on July 1, 2024.
Journal of Early Intervention offers articles related to research and practice in early intervention and early childhood special education for infants and young children with disabilities and developmental delays and their families. Early intervention is broadly defined as procedures that facilitate the development of infants and young children 0-8 years old who have disabilities, developmental delays, or who are at risk for disability or developmental delay. Key features include research reports, scholarly reviews, policy analyses and research methods.
As a DEC leader, selected editor(s) commit to supporting all DEC guidance to include the DEC mission, ends, priority issues agenda, position statements, and racial equity point of view. In relation to journal work, selected editors commit to the following:
● DEC provides explicit and accessible pathways to publication and product development for practitioners, families, and those most directly harmed by structural racism and ableism and incentivizes the same.
● DEC prioritizes exploratory, participatory design, and other manners of centering those DEC serves in the research driving its creation of publications and products and broadens what we consider rigorous research.
● DEC provides explicit and consistent guidelines for authors, editors/associate editors, and peer reviewers to ensure that advancing equity, diversity, social justice, and inclusion are attended to in the publication/peer review process to increase accessibility, particularly for practitioners and families.
● DEC requires that editors, associate editors, and guest reviewers and editors of publications demonstrate a commitment to continually building their own and their team’s equity capacity, and their commitment to centering equity in their work.
● DEC maintains clear, open, and transparent processes for recruitment of editors, editorial boards, and reviewers.
● DEC maintains a review process that examines the rigor of study design and includes specific criteria that focus on inclusion, equity, and community engagement in the study.
● DEC is committed to creating and maintaining open and no-cost access to publications and products and provides multiple print and online resources to fulfill this commitment.
Technical editorial duties include the following:
Recruiting authors and articles for submission with assistance from Sage
Receiving manuscripts submitted for publication.
Selecting an editorial team including at minimum one managing editor, three associate editors, and reviewers from DEC memberships who are representative of both national and international membership and represent diversity in discipline as well as cultural and linguistic backgrounds. (See below)
Assigning manuscripts to associate editors or reviewers.
Monitoring the entire review process including supporting associate editors and reviewers, ensuring that timeframes are maintained, and communication with authors is timely.
Assembling accepted manuscripts and other articles.
Overseeing the copyediting of manuscripts with editorial team and authors and proof-reading with SAGE.
Obtaining and maintaining appropriate releases of copyright, artwork, and photos.
Be familiar with the SAGE process and how they assist the JEI Editor.
Ongoing communication with SAGE to ensure that the JEI editor and managing editors have substantial support from SAGE.
Collaborating closely with the DEC Executive Director/Office with bi-directional, regular communication.
Communicating with DEC Executive Office, Executive Board and other appropriate committees or groups to ensure ongoing alignment with DEC’s organizational mission, ends, priority issues agenda, position statements, and racial equity point of view.
Preparing information about the journal for DEC’s annual report.
Present annual data at DEC Annual Conference.
The successful candidate for editor will:
Have knowledge of issues and trends in early intervention and early childhood special education as well as related disciplines (e.g., early childhood, nursing, occupational therapy, social work, speech, and language pathology).
Have been an active contributor to professional research and evidence-based practice literature.
Stay informed of publication trends and standards for academic journals and academic publishing.
Have experience as an editor or associate editor for professional publication(s) and strong technical editing skills.
Have been an active member of DEC.
Have experience with other early childhood organizations (e.g., NAEYC, Zero to Three, etc.).
Have the ability to work cooperatively with the JEI Editorial Board, DEC Executive Board, and DEC Executive Office.
Recognize the value and contribution of professional disciplines and political/cultural/personal orientation that contribute to early intervention for infants and young children with disabilities and developmental delays and their families.
Have 10-15 hours per week to devote to JEI.
The candidate will not serve as editor or associate editor of other peer reviewed journals during the tenure as JEI editor.
Applicants for this position should submit the following materials:
A letter of application in which the applicant states their rationale for applying for this position and any proposed improvements or future directions the publication will take under their leadership.
A description of the professional and personal resources available to the editor to facilitate the management and preparation of Journal of Early Intervention.
A letter from the dean or other appropriate supervisor indicating institutional support (e.g., course release, graduate assistants, office space).
Curriculum vitae.
Three (3) confidential letters of reference sent directly to peggy@dec-sped.org. These letters should be from individuals who have knowledge of the applicant’s ability to fulfill the duties of the editor of JEI.
DEC has provided supplemental information to inform candidates about the additional support an editor will need from an editorial team and the support provided tothe DEC Executive Office and Board, JEI Editor, and Editorial Team from SAGE. Download the supplemental information here.
Submit application materials and letters of reference to Peggy Kemp, DEC’s Executive Director, peggy@dec-sped.org with title JEI Editor. All materials must be received by February 15, 2024, 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
Questions about the search process and position may be directed to peggy@dec-sped.org.
