The Council for Exceptional Children works to improve and influence public policy affecting children with exceptionalities, those with disabilities and/or gifts and talents, their parents, and the professionals who work with them, at all levels of government.

In advocating on behalf of children with exceptionalities, CEC examines policy issues, develops appropriate responses to those issues, and influences local, state, provincial, and federal legislation. CEC also monitors and makes recommendations for program regulations and funding. In addition, CEC maintains a network among its units for influencing policy.

CEC is the recognized leader in advocacy for special education policy. CEC has a long history of success in impacting this country's policy and legislation in the special education, gifted and talented, and general education areas. CEC played a large part in developing the predecessor of today's IDEA, then known as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 (PL 94-142). This law established the right to a free, appropriate public education for children with disabilities.

CEC’s Public Policy Agenda for the 111th Congress
Read CEC’s public policy priorities for 2009-2011 on IDEA, No Child Left Behind, gifted education, Medicaid, and more.