Throughout 2006, CEC led the way for the highest quality special education teaching and learning. CEC's reach extended from the national level to the classroom. Nationally, CEC worked to implement federal policies that support the education of students with disabilities and/or gifts and talents, as well as to promote standards for effective practice. Just as importantly, CEC's influence could be seen in classrooms across the nation and throughout the world, as special education teachers employed research-based teaching strategies and techniques CEC promoted and disseminated through its professional development events, products and services. Some of our 2006 highlights include:

Policy and advocacy

• Many of CEC's recommendations were included in the IDEA 2004 final regulations.
• CEC continued its campaign for increased funding for special education. 
• CEC preserved funding for the national gifted and talented education program.
• CEC worked with the U.S. Department of Education to provide more flexibility in the testing of students with disabilities. Our recommendations influenced the 2 Percent Flexibility Option. 
• CEC collaborated with other organizations to maintain reimbursement of administrative and transportation costs for Medicaid-eligible students with disabilities.
• CEC worked with the Forum on Education Accountability, Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, the National Alliance for Pupil Service Organizations, and CEC leadership and members to craft principles for the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act.
• CEC recommended an infrastructure for the smooth transition of the IDEA Research Program from the Office of Special Education Programs to the Institute of Education Sciences.

Professional standards and practice

• CEC validated the Advanced Role Common Core Knowledge and Skills, which outline the knowledge and skills masters-level special educators should know.
• CEC disseminated a new study by the National Assistive Technology Research Institute showing that while assistive technology use is becoming increasingly important, educators need more knowledge of and guidance in implementing AT for students with disabilities to fully benefit from it. 
• CEC undertook a study of evidence-based practice. 
• CEC initiated a study of Response-to-Intervention to provide guidelines for implementing this process for identifying learning disabilities. 
• CEC disseminated the Assistive Technology Planner From IEP Consideration to Classroom Implementation, which provides research-based information on the appropriate selection and use of AT for students with disabilities. 

Professional development

• CEC held nationwide workshops on the new IDEA 2004 regulations and produced a comparative analysis of the new and old regulations to assist special educators to understand and implement the changes. 
• CEC introduced a new Web site that emphasizes professional content for special educators and includes a Teaching and Learning Center, Career Center and Member-Only content. www.cec.sped.org
• CEC expanded its online learning opportunities, offering special educators a broad range of topics, from the most recent legislative changes to assessment to instructional strategies all led by experts in the field. 
• CEC hosted a free online conference showing how software can help students with learning disabilities succeed in general education classes. 
• CEC SmartBrief continued to provide valuable information to special educators, with the subscriber base growing to more than 47,600.
• CEC produced publications and journal articles covering critical topics special education topics, including response-to-intervention, inclusion programs, adequate yearly progress, NCLB and more.
• More than 5,000 special educators and exhibitors convened in Salt Lake City for CEC's Annual Convention & Expo. CEC presented a wide range of topics and in-depth learning at its 17 preconvention workshops, strands, more than 700 sessions and 300+ exhibitors.

CEC 2007 Annual Convention & Expo
April 18 to 21
Louisville, Ky.

Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE) Winter Institute
Jan. 17 to 19
Clearwater Beach, Fla.

Colorado CEC Courage to Risk: Annual Collaborative Conference for Special Education
Jan. 19 to 20
Colorado Springs, Colo.

Technology and Media (TAM)/ATIA 2007 Conference: Technology Use for K-12
Jan. 24 to 27
Orlando, Fla.

Division on Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Conference on Cognitive Disabilities/Mental Retardation, Autism, and Other Developmental Disabilities
Jan. 31 to Feb. 3
Kona, Hawaii

Oklahoma CEC 2007 Conference
Feb. 6 and 7
Norman, Okla.

2007 Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders (CCBD) Forum: Educating Troubled Children/Youth: Innovative Approaches, Alternative Settings, and Multidisciplinary Collaboration Resulting in Positive Outcomes
Feb. 9 and 10
Las Vegas, Nev.

Manitoba CEC 2007 Conference: Celebrating Exceptional Children
Feb. 15 to 17
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Minnesota CEC/CCBD Conference: Teaching and Learning Collaboratively
Feb. 21 and 22
Bloomington, Minn.

South Carolina CEC Conference: Shoring Up Specially Designed Instruction
Feb. 23-24
Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Michigan CEC Annual Conference
Feb. 28 to March 2
Grand Rapids, Mich.

2007 Georgia CEC Conference
March 2 and 3
Macon, Ga. 2007

Montana Conference on Diverse Abilities: Bridging Gaps: Collaboration Across General and Special Education
April 4 to 6
Missoula, Mont.

Division of International Special Education and Services (DISES) Conference South American Special Education Forum -- Making the Impossible Possible -- A Better Life for Persons with Differing Abilities and their Families
July 8 to 12
Lima, Peru

2007 Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders (CCBD) Conference: Ensuring a Brighter Future for Troubled Children and Youth: Challenges and Solutions
Oct. 4 to 6
Dallas (Irving), Texas

Division on Career Development & Transition (DCDT) Conference
Oct. 18 to 20
Orlando, Fla.

Arkansas CEC 2007 Annual Conference
Nov. 7 to 9
Hot Springs, Ark.