This document presents revised comprehensive standards and guidelines for the preparation and certification of special educators and for practice as special educators, developed by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). Section 1 provides CEC's Code of Ethics and Standards for Professional Practice for Special Education. Section 2 presents CEC's International Standards for Entry into Professional Practice and for Continuing Professional Growth. It contains a curriculum-referenced licensing and program accreditation framework recommended for licensing of entry-level professionals in special education. Guidelines for mentoring and for continuing practice in the profession are also included. Section 3 contains the knowledge and skill standards that special education preparation programs use for developing and evaluating their programs and that CEC uses for the national accreditation process. The last section contains the profession's Knowledge and Skill Standards. Skill standards are also included for paraeducators, career/transition specialists, educational diagnosticians, and special education administrators. Appendices include summaries of the history of special education and professional standards, and a self-evaluation instrument designed for use by students of special education to evaluate their progress in learning knowledge and skills. (CR)

Advances in knowledge of effective strategies for the treatment of learning and behavioral disabilities are of little use without highly trained and effective personnel to implement these strategies. This volume discusses a wide range of important issues in the preparation of those personnel.

Describes CEC ethics, standards and guidelines for special education preparation and practice. Includes CEC Code of Ethics; Professional Practice Standards, Mentoring Standards; and standards for beginning special education teachers, administrators, educational diagnosticians, transition specialists, and paraeducators.