The Division for Early Childhood
The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) 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.
Founded in 1973 by a group of passionate volunteers, DEC is one of 17 divisions of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the largest organization committed to improving educational outcomes for individuals with disabilities and gifts and talents.
At the heart of DEC’s work is a collective responsibility to address and dismantle systemic inequities that negatively impact young children and their families. DEC is committed to shaping leadership, research, policy, and practices that ensure every child and family can thrive.
As a member of DEC, you drive forward this mission to advance equity and inclusion for young children and their families. Your knowledge, passion, and dedication contribute to shaping a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive.
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!
Guiding DEC
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 CEC's policies, in particular, CEC's Commitment to Diversity and CEC's Non Discrimination Policy.
Mission Statement
It is the collective responsibility of the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children to center the needs and realities of those who are most negatively impacted by systemic inequity. We advance and shape leadership, research, policy, and practice that supports, engages, and informs those who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children with or at risk for developmental delays and disabilities. DEC works to identify, interrogate, and dismantle systemic inequities so that young children and their families thrive.