This document presents revised comprehensive standards and guidelines for the preparation and certification of special educators and for practice as special educators, developed by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). Part 1 provides the CEC's Code of Ethics for Professional Practice for Educators of Persons with Exceptionalities and CEC's Standards for Professional Practice. Part 2 presents the CEC's International Standards for Entry into Professional Practice. Standards for knowledge and skills essential for all beginning special education teachers are outlined first, followed by knowledge and skills for special education teachers working with students with hearing impairments, emotional and behavior disorders, gifts or talents, learning disabilities, mental retardation and developmental disabilities, visual impairments, and physical and health disabilities. The knowledge and skills needed for early childhood programs are also outlined. Part 3 provides guidelines for CEC approval of special education professional preparation programs in the same areas. The items in Parts 2 and 3 are coded by area, topic, and knowledge or skill in order to provide a framework for creating a searchable database of knowledge and skills items. Space is provided next to each item for citing course numbers or other descriptions of where the knowledge or skill is covered in a curriculum or continuing education program. (CR)