CEC's 2009-2011 Strategic Plan
The Council for Exceptional Children’s 2009-2011
Strategic Plan features six goals to improve the education of
children and youth with exceptionalities and the involvement
of their families, support informed professional practice, and
strengthen our professional community. These goals and their related
objectives provide direction and focus for the Council’s work over
the next three years. Strategies to realize the goals build on the
successes of the 2006-2008 Strategic Plan.
Download the CEC 2009-2011 Strategic Plan as a
PDF.
TEACHING AND LEARNING CONDITIONS
Goal 1: To improve the conditions of
teaching and learning and support the highest quality of services for
individuals with exceptionalities.
Issue Statement: Improved teaching and
learning conditions are required to prepare, recruit, and retain quality
professionals in special education and early intervention so that every
child and youth with exceptionalities receives quality services and
supports from caring and competent professional educators. These
improvements must begin with initial preparation programs and continue
through career-long professional development. Professional learning
communities, which encourage collaboration, are needed to support
effective practices by special and general educators and to support
implementation of evidence-based practices. Finally, professional
development and advocacy directed toward all levels of administrators
must be enhanced to encourage educational leaders to establish strong
expectations for the use of effective and validated instructional
practice, to reduce the disproportionate representation of students from
culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and to increase
administrative support for special education.
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES
Goal 2: To foster and effectively
communicate the use of evidence-based practices in general and special
education and early intervention.
Issue Statement: There is a
growing interest in evidence-based practices that address the needs of
individuals with exceptionalities. There is currently confusion
regarding exactly what evidence-based practices are, how they can be
evaluated, and how they can be identified and utilized with these
individuals. Further, we need to examine carefully the context of the
evidence base by addressing questions like “Evidence base for
which students? And under what circumstances?” to ensure that the
needs of diverse students have been addressed. The evidence base must
reflect the theoretical and research foundation, the inclusion of
professional wisdom, and respect for family and community values. As the
trusted source for professional knowledge, CEC can provide the
leadership and guidance needed to help the field move toward increasing
the use of evidence-based practices and approaches.
INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT
Goal 3: To foster mutual
understanding and reciprocal partnerships internationally, supporting
professionals in improving the lives of individuals with
exceptionalities.
Issue Statement: Educational
systems throughout the world are working to address needs of individuals
with exceptionalities. CEC can provide avenues to foster mutual
understanding and reciprocal partnerships to gain a broader
understanding and respect of the world’s cultures, educational
values and practices, and research.
COMMUNITY AND MEMBERSHIP
Goal 4: To promote growth and diversity
in membership by building a more engaged community to enhance
professional practice, learning, leadership, and collaboration.
Issue Statement: Associations
continue to experience increased competition for traditional core
services while experiencing societal and demographic trends that impact
membership affiliation and retention. Sustaining success in such a
dynamic environment entails having a reputation for value, an enjoyable
culture based on trust and communication, and a nimble infrastructure
for quickly seizing opportunities to create value. Success for the
Council and its state and provincial affiliates and divisions is
explicitly interrelated in terms of being a diverse inclusive community
rich in leadership opportunities. Maintaining a strong, vibrant
organization with actively engaged members and empowering the leadership
of these units is critical to the growth of the association.
PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY
Goal 5: To advance governmental
policies impacting the teaching and learning of individuals with
exceptionalities and the practice of professionals who work on their
behalf.
Issue Statement: Vigorous sustained
advocacy is required to ensure that programs are funded in accordance
with authorization levels and that affirmative actions are taken to
meaningfully address shortages of high-quality professionals within
special education and early intervention. New accountability standards
are impacting the delivery of educational services and objectives for
individuals with exceptionalities. CEC must continue to lead efforts to
strengthen national and state/provincial policies and funding to support
educational and early intervention services and programs for individuals
with exceptionalities and their families; advocate for a sufficient
supply of highly qualified personnel reflective of the diversity of
society; and empower educational leaders to support conditions for
appropriate learning and teaching.
ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS
Goal 6: To continuously improve
organizational performance and fiduciary effectiveness to provide value
to members and customers.
Issue Statement: Productive and
efficient operations and management and careful financial stewardship
are essential to continuous enhanced performance and the Council’s
ability to deliver cost-effective, value-added programs and services.
Successful organizations are committed to mission, customer service,
analysis and feedback, dialogue and engagement, and organizational
adaptability. Ongoing evaluation of objectives and success indicators
from the strategic plan are critical to ensuring that goals are
achieved. Documenting the strategies used to achieve these goals and
disseminating the information to the membership will support a more
engaged and informed membership. Disciplined thought and action will be
required to grow membership and increased participation in fee-based
programs and services.
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