This document brings together professional standards of the special education profession adopted by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). The standards represent the efforts of special educators to govern their own practice, guide agencies that certify or license special educators, and improve programs that prepare special educators. The publication includes the following professional standards and guidelines: (1) "CEC Code of Ethics for Educators of Persons with Exceptionalities," (2) "CEC Standards for Professional Practice," (3) "CEC Standards for Entry into Professional Practice," (4) "CEC Common Core of Knowledge and Skills Essential for All Beginning Special Education Teachers," (5) "CEC Standards for the Preparation of Special Education Personnel," (6) "CEC/NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) Guidelines for CEC Program Approval of Undergraduate or Basic Programs," (7) "CEC/NCATE Guidelines for CEC Program Approval of Graduate or Advanced Programs," and (8) "Non-NCATE Guidelines for Program Approval." (JDD)