CEC-DR award named for Lynn Fuchs

Isn't this wonderful recognition for our late leader and friend?

The Division for Research, Council for Exceptional Children, has renamed its award recognizing a scholar’s publication for the late Lynn S. Fuchs. The annual award, previously known as the “early career publication award,” will henceforth be know as the “Lynn S. Fuchs Early Career Publication Award.” This is an especially fitting naming of the award, as Professor Fuchs was not just a champion of research, but also an advocate for young scholars who employed rigorous scientific methods in their research.

Here is a snippet from the DR announcement:

Lynn Fuchs’ career was marked not only by groundbreaking research and an unparalleled record of scholarly publications, but also by her tireless dedication to mentoring and training the next generation of scholars. She published more than 500 peer-reviewed journal articles and has been recognized as one of the most frequently cited researchers in the social sciences. Her scholarship advanced our collective understanding of assessment, intervention, and data-based decision making, establishing foundational knowledge that continues to shape research, practice, and policy in special education. Lynn’s influence has also been recognized through numerous national and international honors. To name only a few – in 2003, she and Doug Fuchs received the Career Research Award from the Council for Exceptional Children. In 2009, Forbes Magazine identified them among the top 14 “revolutionary educators” nationwide. In 2021, they were awarded the prestigious Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education, which “celebrates innovation, inspiration, and impact in education by recognizing outstanding leaders who have devoted their careers to closing gaps and accelerating educational opportunity for all students.”

Lynn Fuchs, 2006. Photo © 2026 by John Wills Lloyd, Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

As of 22 February 2026, DR has not yet updated the Web page regarding this award, but I assume that it will be revised to represent the new award. Please consult that page (or start from DR’s home page and browse for awards) to learn about the nomination procedures, due dates, and so forth.