Council for Exceptional Children Convention & Expo - CEC 2027

According to CEC's partner materials, anticipated 2027 attendance is 4,300+. The organizer reports the following attendee breakdown:

• Roles: 29% Administrators, 25% Teachers, 12% Higher Education, 5% Students, and 29% Other.
• Workplace: 56% Public School, 12% College/University, 2% Charter/Private School, and 30% Other.
• Populations served: 10% Birth–5 Years, 21% Elementary, 9% Middle School, 11% Secondary, and 13% Postsecondary.

Engagement metrics reported by CEC include 92% of attendees spending time visiting the Expo Hall, 75% of attendees involved with purchasing, 97% of attendees satisfied with their convention experience, and over 16,000 leads captured by exhibiting partners.

Registration for CEC 2027 is available online, by purchase order, or via a downloadable registration form, with group registration savings available for groups of 5 or more. CEC offers several registration types:

• In-Person PLUS — Includes both in-person and virtual registration, as well as admission to the CEC Celebration reception.
• In-Person — In-person convention sessions and Expo Hall access.
• In-Person One-Day — Single-day in-person access.
• Virtual Only — On-demand virtual sessions (Virtual Convention on April 7, 2027).

Rates vary by category (Pre-Service, Graduate Student, Early Career, Professional, Paraeducator, Retired, Family/Affiliate, and Non-Member). For example, In-Person Professional registration ranges from $419 (Early Bird) to $529 (Late/On-Site), and In-Person PLUS Professional ranges from $489 to $599.

Key deadlines: Early Bird ends 10/23/2026, Regular Rate ends 1/31/2027, and Late/On-Site rates start 2/1/2027. Pre- and post-convention workshops and special events (Awards Luncheon, CEC Celebration) carry additional fees.

The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) was organized by a group of educators attending the summer session at Teachers College, Columbia University, and their faculty members on August 10, 1922, beginning with 12 members. Elizabeth E. Farrell, the founder and first President from 1922 to 1926, was focused on the belief that every child, regardless of their abilities or challenges, deserved an education tailored to their unique strengths and needs.

Through groundbreaking research, advocacy efforts, and a commitment to inclusivity, CEC has helped pave the way for more equitable educational opportunities, and since its founding over a century ago, has created nationally recognized standards, guidelines, and a code of ethics for special education. According to CEC, organizations focused on special and gifted education have been participating in the CEC Annual Convention & Expo for over 60 years. Recent host cities include Orlando (2022), Louisville (2023), San Antonio (2024), Baltimore (2025), and Salt Lake City (2026), with Columbus, OH hosting in 2027 and Chicago set for 2028.