About the Program Review and National Recognition Process

The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Program Review and National Recognition process is the premier quality assurance pathway for special educator preparation programs in the United States. Through this process, programs demonstrate that their graduates meet the rigorous CEC Standards by submitting evidence of candidate performance on key assessments aligned to each content area and degree level. National Recognition from CEC is earned as part of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accreditation process, providing programs with both specialised recognition and broader institutional accreditation. The program review process requires educator preparation programs to submit detailed reports using CEC's standardised templates, documenting how their curriculum, clinical experiences, and assessments prepare candidates to work effectively with students with exceptionalities. CEC serves as the Specialised Professional Association (SPA) for special education, early intervention/early childhood special education, and — since 2018 — gifted education, making it the comprehensive standard-setting body for the full range of exceptional learner preparation programs. For programs not pursuing CAEP accreditation — such as those in states that don't require it, smaller programs, or private universities — CEC also offers direct accreditation as an alternative pathway to demonstrate program quality. This flexibility ensures that all special educator preparation programs, regardless of their institutional context, have access to a rigorous, nationally recognised quality assurance process that ultimately strengthens the preparation of teachers serving students with disabilities and other exceptional learning needs.