What Every Must Know Special Educator - Council for Exceptional ...

It was through significant professional and personal
commitment that the members of CEC created this
edition. In the process, we learned about the standards
needed for safe and effective practice. We also learned
about each other and developed a deep mutual respect.
May those who use these standards experience that
same mutual respect from all who serve individuals
with exceptionalities and their families.
Preamble to the Common Core, 2nd edition
Like its predecessors, the sixth edition of What Every
Special Educator Must Know is a collaborative product
of the members of CEC and other professionals in
the wider educational community. The standards
and principles represent the expertise and ideas of
literally thousands of special educators. This edition,
like its predecessors, is based on the premise
that professional standards must emanate from the
profession itself. Special education is an international
profession, not limited to a single state, province, or
location. The standards provide benchmarks to states,
provinces, and nations for developing or revising
policy and procedures for program accreditation,
entry-level licensure, professional practice, and continuing
professional growth. For over 85 years, CEC
has developed and implemented standards for special
educators. The standards presented in this edition
continue in this tradition of professional leadership by
providing direction to colleges and universities that
prepare teachers as well as to states as they develop
new licensure frameworks for special educators. The
move to performance-based standards places CEC at
the forefront in educational reform with other national
associations seeking to improve the quality of all teachers
who serve exceptional children. These changes can
be used by states and teacher preparation programs
moving to performance-based accountability systems.
The standards have been praised for their reflection of
best practice, emphasis on diversity, and for “capturing
the essence of special education today.”
The sixth edition has been designed to provide information
to a variety of stakeholder audiences:
Introduction
• Individuals preparing to become
professional special educators
The sixth edition will introduce you to the ethics
and professional practice standards to which you
aspire. It also describes the knowledge and skills
that will be the foundation of your professional
preparation and which have influenced the
licensure you seek.
• Practicing professionals
You will not only find your professional ethics
and practice standards and your professional
standards, you will also find guidance in creating
your professional development plan for your
continuing professional growth. In addition, you
will find knowledge and skill sets for a variety of
advanced special education roles.
• Deans and faculty developing or revising
preparation programs
You will find the procedures for seeking national
recognition of your programs through National
Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
(NCATE) and CEC or through CEC alone.
• State directors and policymakers
You will find guidance to align your state licensing
standards to the profession’s recommendations.
• Families and other community stakeholders
You will find the ethics, professional practice
standards, and the knowledge and skills that we
as the special education profession use to define
ourselves and judge each other’s excellence.
The preparation standards provide assurance
that special educators are prepared for safe and
effective practice.
• Professional colleagues in general education
This publication will help you to understand the
knowledge and skills that we as special educators
bring to our collaborative educational endeavor.
introduCtion xi