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CEC Member Benefits

Join the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) , and share in the richness of the CEC experience. Get the training, resources, and peer-to-peer support you need to meet today's new challenges in special education with confidence and greater competence and make a difference for exceptional children.

As a CEC member, you'll access:

CEC Publications
Stay on the cutting edge with the high-impact, up-to-the-minute information you receive from CEC's member publications:

• TEACHING Exceptional Children - actionable and useful articles to teach and administer programs for children with disabilities and/or who are gifted (6 issues per year).

   

• Exceptional Children - original research on the education and development of children with exceptionalities in practical terms that you can bring into your classroom (4 issues per year).

   

• CEC Today - member newsletter keeps you up-to-date on professional and legal developments (5 issues per year, online).

Books, Media and Training
CEC's articles, books, videos, and CD ROMS cover the entire agenda of social, legal and educational issues of children with exceptionalities. Our resource catalog is crammed with resources and materials specifically for special educators.

Career Development
CEC's continuing education programs, including the CEC Annual Convention and Expo, provide groundbreaking information, state-of-the-art resources, and new ways of reaching students. CEC also provides you with essential training programs, materials, planning, and continuing education opportunities.

Advocacy and Support
CEC members are an integral part of CEC's advocacy efforts for the rights of children and youth with exceptionalities, as well as the special needs of the educators who serve them. CEC is a major voice in Congress, the courts, and the U.S. Department of Education. CEC has launched a comprehensive program to make the educational community and the public aware of teacher shortages and special education teaching conditions. No other organization is more active - or more effective.

Professional Divisions
Join one or more of the 17 CEC special interest divisions, allowing you to tailor your participation to your particular area(s) of expertise. Each division publishes journals and newsletters, sponsors conferences and other professional development activities, facilitates political action on issues that directly affect your practice and interests, and provides unique networking opportunities to bring you closer with experts and your professional peers.

CEC's Special Interest Divisions

Peer Networking and Leadership Opportunities
CEC's 17 special-interest divisions, 59 state/provincial units and hundreds of local chapters make you part of the most extensive network of professional special educators in existence today. CEC provides a wide range of opportunities for members to serve in leadership positions at the local, state/provincial, and international level.

Up-to-the-Minute Access via the Web
At the CEC Web site you'll get the latest updates, on news in special education, participate in CEC's listserves, join or renew CEC membership, register for professional development events, and order books and other quality resources online.

Discounts on Educational Resources
CEC members enjoy savings of up to 30% on all CEC publications and professional development events including the CEC Annual Convention & Expo.

Career Connections
Register your resume, view special education job postings, and access a list of recruiters - all on Career Connections, the only job bank on the Internet devoted exclusively to special education professionals.

Professional Liability and Other Insurance

Enjoy protection from the high costs of lawsuits due to your activities as an education professional. The Educators Professional Liability Plan is available in limits of $1 million and $2 million. Full-time and part-time professional employees in the education field are eligible for this plan as well as paraprofessionals and related services personnel. Apply now!

Student members preparing for employment and performing educational duties under the supervision of a licensed educator can purchase an individual $1 million policy for an annual premium of only $15. The policy is the same as that offered to professional members, but does not include job protection benefits. Apply now!

New! Comprehensive Health Insurance
Potentially save thousands on health insurance. Plan options include Health Savings Accounts, Family PPO Plans and Group Employee Health Plans. Visit Forrest T. Jones & Company and Assurant Affinity online, or call 888/308-9342 for your proposal today.

CEC members are also eligible for term life insurance, long term care, disability income protection, and a variety of other insurance programs. Forrest T. Jones and Company, Inc. offers low rates to CEC members on these and other top-quality policies. Click here for more information.

New! Identity Theft Protection
Identity theft is the fastest-growing crime in the United States. ID Theft Assist Protection provides real-time, online access to TransUnion credit reports, flags suspicious transactions, alerts credit card holders of unusual activity, and guides you through the web of procedures that must be completed to recover from identity theft. Coverage is $99 per year for individuals, $119 for families. Apply online now or call 800/821-7303 for more information.

Auto Insurance
Comprehensive, affordable auto insurance coverage is available to CEC members in most states. Features include nationwide, 24-hour claims handling, customized coverage, safety discounts, and more. For details and a customized rate quite, call GEICO at 800/368-2734 and mention your CEC membership.

Council for Exceptional Children WorldPoints® MasterCard Credit Card:
The Most Rewarding Card of All^SM

Earn points and get the rewards you want—cash, travel, merchandise, and gift certificates—now with easy online redemption, too! Only the WorldPoints® card gives you the freedom to choose so much, so easily—and with no annual fee. Simply click here to apply online today.

CD’s and Money Market Accounts
Take advantage of competitive yields for Certificate of Deposit and Money Market deposit accounts for CEC members. The CD and Money Market accounts offered by Bank of America are FDIC insured for up to $100,000 per depositor.   Click here or call 1-800-414-4229 today and mention priority code HA065 for current rates or to open an account.

Rental Car Discounts
Valuable benefits on car rental from Hertz including a one-car-class upgrade and discounts on weekly or weekend rentals.

Retirement Planning
The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company (VALIC) offers CEC members a comprehensive package of retirement planning products and services including fixed and variable investment options, state-of-the-art administration of retirement plans, and expert account assistance.

Step into a Network of Professional Support - Join CEC Today!

CEC membership offers you a wide range of personal and professional benefits you can't afford to be without. Step into this network of professional support. Join CEC today!

Join online now using MasterCard, VISA, or Discover.

To apply by phone, fax or mail, click here.

Renewing Member? Renew online now! You'll need your CEC membership identification number and password to access your membership record.

Need More Information?

For additional information on the member benfits listed above, contact CEC's Constituent Services Center at (888) 232-7733, TTY (866) 915-5000, or e-mail service@cec.sped.org. Representatives are available to take your call Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Time.