Division for Early Childhood
Division for Early Childhood (DEC), founded in 1973 as a division of the Council for Exceptional Children, is a non-profit professional membership organization that publishes evidence-based resources, journals, webinars, and toolkits for early intervention and early childhood special education professionals serving young children with disabilities and their families.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1973
- HeadquartersBogotá, Colombia
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Division for Early Childhood does
Division for Early Childhood (DEC) is a non-profit professional membership organization founded in 1973 as a division of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), governed under the laws of Montana. It serves professionals, faculty, and families working with young children (ages 0-8) who have or are at risk for developmental delays and disabilities, with a primary focus on early intervention (Part C of IDEA) and early childhood special education (Part B Section 619). Its core offerings include the DEC Recommended Practices and associated monograph series, peer-reviewed journals (Journal of Early Intervention and Young Exceptional Children, distributed via SAGE Publications), over 100 Learning Deck webinars, CONNECT Modules and Courses, the CARA's Kit and PEAT's Suite practitioner toolkits, the Practice Improvement Tools, and the annual DEC conference plus a virtual institute.
Commercially, DEC operates a membership-plus-content business model priced at the low end of the professional development market: membership dues (recurring), individual publications and monographs priced $25-$40, Learning Deck webinars at $25 each, self-paced eLearning modules at $10 with an optional professional development hour certificate, and free resources (CONNECT Modules, Family Service Coordination Toolkit) that function as a funnel. Revenue is also generated through advertising in the DEC Spotlight newsletter (managed by MultiView) and journals (SAGE Publications), the annual conference, and institutional purchase orders. Distribution is primarily through the DEC Store e-commerce storefront and the DEC Explore eLearning platform, with email newsletters (DEC Spotlight, Learning Deck) reaching approximately 20,000 individuals 2-3 times per month.
The technology stack is modest: a Wix.com-hosted website with SSL, Google and Wix analytics, the Egnyte document platform for the DEC Resource Inventory, and the connectmodules.dec-sped.org / decexplore.org eLearning environments. Strategic content partnerships with ECTA Center (FPG Child Development Institute, UNC Chapel Hill), Pennsylvania Early Intervention Technical Assistance, ECPC, NCPMI, STEMIE, NAEYC, Zero To Three, and Brookes Publishing underpin the content library. DEC does not disclose revenue, has no funding rounds, and operates as a non-traded division under CEC.
Division for Early Childhood firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Division for Early Childhood
- Legal name
- Division for Early Childhood
- Website
- https://dec-sped.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1973
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Division for Early Childhood (DEC), founded in 1973 as a division of the Council for Exceptional Children, is a non-profit professional membership organization that publishes evidence-based resources, journals, webinars, and toolkits for early intervention and early childhood special education professionals serving young children with disabilities and their families.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Division for Early Childhood industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Special Education Professional Development
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- IEP/IFSP-Aligned Curriculum & Lesson Materials (EDAGAMAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Compliance, Ethics & Regulatory Training (EDAGANAD), Compliance, Safety & Regulatory eLearning Content (EDAGAEAF), ABA Curriculum, Materials & Data Collection Tools (Non-EdTech Content) (EDAKAHAN)
Keywords
Where Division for Early Childhood is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bogotá
- HQ country
- Colombia
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Division for Early Childhood business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: International membership organization for professionals working with young children with disabilities; members receive access to publications, resources, and community platforms
- Publication Sales: Sale of printed and digital publications including monographs, recommended practices guides, CARA's KIT, and PEAT's Suite through the DEC Store
- Learning Deck Webinars: Sale of archived professional development webinars presented by field experts on early intervention and ECSE topics
- eLearning Modules and Courses: Online self-paced courses including CONNECT Modules, CARA's KIT online, and PEAT's Suite modules, with optional professional development hour certificates
- Annual Conference: DEC Annual Conference registration fees for professional development and networking event
- Advertising and Exhibiting: Advertising opportunities in DEC Spotlight newsletter, website, Learning Deck emails, and journals (JEI and YEC) managed by MultiView and SAGE Publications
- Journals: The Journal of Early Intervention (JEI) and Young Exceptional Children (YEC) peer-reviewed journals managed by SAGE Publications
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | CARA's KIT Physical Publication |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | PEAT's Suite Publication (Service Provider's or Leader's Guide) |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Self-Guided eLearning Modules (Free) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Self-Guided eLearning Modules with PD Certificate |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Learning Deck Webinars |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | eGift Cards |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | DEC Recommended Practices Monographs |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Young Exceptional Children Monographs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Division for Early Childhood product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DEC is a nonprofit professional membership organization that sells evidence-based practice guidelines, printed publications, eLearning modules, archived webinars, peer-reviewed journals, and runs an annual conference for professionals working with young children (0-8) with disabilities and developmental delays. Core offerings include the DEC Recommended Practices, CARA's Kit, PEAT's Suite, CONNECT Modules, the Learning Deck Webinar library, and the Journal of Early Intervention (JEI) and Young Exceptional Children (YEC) journals. Resources are aligned with IDEA Part C and Part B(619) requirements and delivered through the DEC Store, DEC Explore platform, and DEC Collaborate community.
Product overview
Division for Early Childhood (DEC) is a professional membership organization that offers a platform-plus-modules product architecture centered on evidence-based professional development resources for the early intervention and early childhood special education field. The core portfolio includes the DEC Store (offering printed publications, monographs, and learning materials), the eLearning Library (featuring CONNECT Modules, CONNECT Courses, and Learning Deck Webinars), and the DEC Explore platform for online learning modules. Key publications include CARA's Kit ($30), PEAT's Suite (Service Provider's and Leader's Guides at $35 each), the DEC Recommended Practices Monograph Series (No. 1-8 at $35 each), Young Exceptional Children Monographs (No. 16-18 at $30 each), and over 100 Learning Deck Webinars ($25 each). The organization also provides free resources including CONNECT Modules, the Family Service Coordination Toolkit, and the DEC Resource Inventory. Professional development is delivered through self-paced online courses, live webinars, and communities of practice.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CONNECT Modules: Free practice-focused instructional resources for faculty and other professional development providers
- CONNECT Courses
- Learning Deck Webinars
- Journal of Early Intervention (JEI)
- Young Exceptional Children (YEC)
Products and services
- CARA's Kit
Quantifiable outcome
- Resources distributed to approximately 20,000 professionals monthly via Learning Deck emails
Companies that use Division for Early Childhood
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Division for Early Childhood technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Division for Early Childhood partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- Brookes PublishingcoreIndependent publishing company founded in 1978, serving as premier publisher of practical, research-based resources supporting children's healthy development and learning for all people with and without disabilities. Long-standing partnership with DEC.
- TORSH TalentsecondaryProfessional development platform that is HIPAA- and FERPA-compliant, serving tens of thousands of users in over 2,000 schools, universities, and organizations. Offers 30% discount for DEC members.
- Early Childhood Personnel Center (ECPC)coreNational technical assistance center that facilitates development, implementation, and evaluation of integrated and comprehensive systems of personnel development (CSPD) for the early childhood workforce serving infants and young children with disabilities eligible for Part C and Part B(619) programs under IDEA.
- ECTA CentercoreNational technical assistance center supporting state Part C and Section 619 programs in developing high-quality early intervention and preschool special education service systems, increasing local implementation of evidence-based practices, and enhancing outcomes for young children with disabilities and their families.
- Inclusive SchoolingsecondaryPartnership with Julie and Kristie who partner with school districts worldwide to deliver professional development using a unique four-step process for identifying schools' inclusive education dreams.
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)coreProfessional membership organization promoting high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research.
- National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI)coreFunded by Office of Special Education Programs to improve state systems and local programs' capacity to implement early childhood multi-tiered system of support for social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes of young children with developmental disabilities or delays.
- STEMIE (STEM Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education)coreCenter that develops knowledge base on STEM learning opportunities for young children with disabilities (0-5), implements high-quality technical assistance and professional development to increase engagement in STEM opportunities.
- Zero To ThreecoreOrganization ensuring babies and toddlers benefit from early connections critical to well-being and development. Has advanced the proven power of nurturing relationships by transforming early childhood science into resources, tools, and policies for parents, professionals, and policymakers since 1977.
- MultiViewcorePartner managing DEC Spotlight weekly email newsletter delivery to members and contacts. Handles email distribution and some advertising sales for DEC communications.
- SAGE PublicationscoreManages publication and distribution of DEC's peer-reviewed journals: Journal of Early Intervention (JEI) and Young Exceptional Children (YEC). Also handles advertising sales for journal placements.
- Pennsylvania Early Intervention Technical AssistancecoreDeveloped CARA's KIT and PEAT's Suite with funding from Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning. Materials are hosted by Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children.
- FPG Child Development Institute (UNC Chapel Hill)coreECTA Center is a program of FPG Child Development Institute, funded through Office of Special Education Programs. Developed Practice Improvement Tools based on DEC Recommended Practices.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Division for Early Childhood competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC): The dominant U.S. professional membership organization for early childhood educators (birth-age 8). NAEYC overlaps DEC's early-childhood audience and is a named core partner, making it the most comparable peer in scope and audience.
- Zero to Three: National nonprofit focused on infants and toddlers (birth-3), including those with developmental delays. Zero to Three directly overlaps DEC's Part C / early intervention audience on policy, training, and resources, and is a listed core DEC partner.
- Brookes Publishing: Independent publisher of research-based resources on child development and disability, with a long-standing partnership with DEC. Brookes competes and collaborates in the same EI/ECSE publishing market.
- National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI): Federally funded (OSEP) center supporting multi-tiered systems of support for social-emotional-behavioral outcomes in young children with disabilities. NCPMI serves the same EI/ECSE practitioner base as DEC and is a core partner, providing comparable TA and training content.
- Early Childhood Personnel Center (ECPC): OSEP-funded national TA center facilitating personnel development for the EI/ECSE workforce under Part C and Part B(619). ECPC shares DEC's regulatory anchor and target audience and is a listed core partner, making it a directly comparable TA provider.
- ECTA Center (FPG Child Development Institute, UNC Chapel Hill): OSEP-funded center at FPG supporting state Part C and Section 619 programs in implementing evidence-based practices. ECTA developed Practice Improvement Tools based on DEC Recommended Practices, making it both a partner and a directly comparable TA/PD provider.
Broad incumbents
- Council for Exceptional Children (CEC): DEC's parent organization and the leading U.S. professional association for special educators. CEC serves the broader K-12 special education workforce, of which DEC's birth-8 segment is one division; they share membership, advocacy, and publishing infrastructure.
- Head Start (Office of Head Start / National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance): Federal early childhood program serving low-income children birth-5, including those with disabilities. Head Start is a key downstream consumer of DEC's professional development content and represents the broader institutional market in which DEC operates.
Regional players
- International Society for Early Intervention (ISEI): International scientific and professional society focused on early intervention research and practice. ISEI serves a globally distributed audience comparable to DEC's international member base, with overlapping research and conference activities.
Emerging players
- STEMIE (STEM Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education): Center developing knowledge base on STEM learning opportunities for young children with disabilities (0-5). STEMIE overlaps DEC's special-education audience and is a core partner, representing a niche-but-comparable TA provider.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Division for Early Childhood social profiles
Digital presenceDivision for Early Childhood financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Division for Early Childhood leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Division for Early Childhood funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Division for Early Childhood M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Division for Early Childhood
What does Division for Early Childhood do?
DEC is a nonprofit professional membership organization that sells evidence-based practice guidelines, printed publications, eLearning modules, archived webinars, peer-reviewed journals, and runs an annual conference for professionals working with young children (0-8) with disabilities and developmental delays. Core offerings include the DEC Recommended Practices, CARA's Kit, PEAT's Suite, CONNECT Modules, the Learning Deck Webinar library, and the Journal of Early Intervention (JEI) and Young Exceptional Children (YEC) journals. Resources are aligned with IDEA Part C and Part B(619) requirements and delivered through the DEC Store, DEC Explore platform, and DEC Collaborate community.
Is Division for Early Childhood a public or private company?
Division for Early Childhood is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Division for Early Childhood founded?
Division for Early Childhood was founded in 1973. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Division for Early Childhood based?
Division for Early Childhood is headquartered in Bogotá, Colombia, in the Latin America region.
How does Division for Early Childhood make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are publication Sales, learning Deck Webinars, eLearning Modules and Courses, annual Conference, advertising and Exhibiting and journals.
Who are Division for Early Childhood's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Zero to Three, Brookes Publishing, National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI), Early Childhood Personnel Center (ECPC) and ECTA Center (FPG Child Development Institute, UNC Chapel Hill). Broad incumbents are Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and Head Start (Office of Head Start / National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance). International Society for Early Intervention (ISEI) is listed as a regional player. STEMIE (STEM Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Division for Early Childhood have an API?
No public API is recorded for Division for Early Childhood.
What industry is Division for Early Childhood in?
Division for Early Childhood's product category is Special Education Professional Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAGAMAA, IEP/IFSP-Aligned Curriculum & Lesson Materials, with a secondary code of EDAGANAD, Compliance, Ethics & Regulatory Training. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.