Director of Special Education and Pupil Services
Timely Information
50 Years of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Consider sharing the following with your school communities.
American Institutes for Research (AIR): For decades, AIR has worked to improve outcomes for students with disabilities and their families. In celebration of 50 years of IDEA, AIR published a series of videos on IDEAs including: IDEA’s Impact on Access, IDEA Values telling a story of belonging, the Role of Data and Evidence in Fulfilling IDEA, and Supporting the Special Education Workforce. To view the videos and additional resources go to AIR’s The Lasting Impacts and Continuing Challenges of Helping Students with Disabilities Succeed webpage.
Center for Exceptional Children: The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) celebrates 50 years of IDEA with videos, blogs, and podcasts. There is also an IDEA 50 Year Anniversary Social Media Toolkit available through CEC. Go to the CEC IDEA 50: Fifty Years of Inclusive Education webpage for more information and links.
Grant Opportunity: Enhancing Social and Emotional Skills in Students with IEPs (ES3) Three Year Grant Application
Beginning on January 12, 2026, DPI will be accepting applications for the Enhancing Social and Emotional Skills in Students with IEPs (ES3) Three Year Grant. The goal of the ES3 grant is to provide public school districts (LEAs) with the structures and processes to identify and support the beliefs, skills, and systems needed to improve academic and functional outcomes for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). This is done through direct, ongoing support, and a prescribed action plan. The focus population for this grant is students with IEPs that present with significantly divergent social and emotional learning needs. Districts receiving this grant are directly supported by a statewide coordinator and dedicated district coordinator who will guide districts and school-based teams through coaching, training, and resources to implement evidence-based improvement strategies to support the growth of both students and educators. Four grant awards are available.
Application and instructions for submission can be found on the Wisconsin DPI Autism, Emotional Behavioral Disability, and Other Health Impairment web pages. The deadline to apply for this grant is midnight on February 27, 2026. Questions regarding the ES3 Three Year grant can be directed to Eva Shaw at eva.shaw@dpi.wi.gov
Topics for Upcoming Specific Learning Disabilities Community of Practice Meetings
The December 17th Specific Learning Disabilities Community of Practice meeting was a success! Many thanks to those who attended and provided input on topics for upcoming sessions. Mark your calendars for the next two meetings. On January 21st Tim Peerenboom (DPI school psychology consultant) and Rose Kilmurray (DPI special education consultant) will facilitate a discussion about progress monitoring related topics (e.g., progress monitoring probes, the SLD graphing tool, response to intervention within a multilevel system of support). On February 18th, Dawn Merth-Johnson (DPI speech and language consultant) will join the group for a discussion about language disorders and specific learning disabilities. Register for the entire series and attend as you are able.
Opportunity to Recruit Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)
The Wisconsin Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (WSHA) 2026 Annual Convention will be held February 5-6 at the Ingleside Resort in Pewaukee, WI. WSHA understands the challenges facing school districts as they struggle to fill openings. They are extending an offer for school districts to exhibit at the upcoming convention. With over 225 attendees anticipated (including a record number of students), this is an opportunity to reach potential new employees. If interested in exhibiting, please email WSHA@badgerbay.co (not .com) no later than January 19. The cost to exhibit is just $500. More information about the event is available on the WSHA website.
New Resources
New Medicaid Information for Pupil Services Webpage and Documents
A new webpage has been added to the DPI website titled Medicaid Information for Pupil Services Webpage. This new page provides information on Medicaid School-Based Services (SBS) specific to the audience of pupil service professionals and school leaders. This page links to the general Medicaid School-Based Services webpage, as well as houses resources specific to an overview of the Medicaid School-Based Services (SBS) Expansion.
2026 Wisconsin Federal Funding Conference
February 23-24, 2026, Kalahari, Wis. Dells. The Wisconsin Federal Funding Conference is your direct line to DPI experts, in coordination with WASBO and WCASS, who are offering strategic insights and practical tools you need to maximize every dollar for your students. From the complexities of IDEA and ESEA to the nuances of Title I, we’re moving beyond simple compliance! Register early, as past conferences have frequently sold out. Link to conference webpage.
Webinar to Introduce the Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) Resource
This webinar is a follow-up to the comprehensive PFD series held last year in order to introduce a new DPI Resource for Supporting Pediatric Feeding Disorders in Wisconsin Schools. Join us on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, for a free webinar from 3:30-4:30 pm. Click on the Pediatric Feeding Disorder Resource registration link to sign up for this free webinar. The webinar will be recorded.
Pathways to Success: Community of Practice
Join special educators from Wisconsin to share ideas and resources, and to discuss problems of practice related to meeting the needs of students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. Click on the Pathways to Success registration link for more information and registration. Meetings will be virtual 3:45-4:45 PM on January 13, 2026, February 10, 2026, and March 10, 2026.
Other DPI News
Edleaders Dispatch, January 06, 2026
- Legislative Update: 2025 Wisconsin Act 57 Requires Same-Day Parent/Guardian Notification for Sexual Misconduct Reports
- Early Literacy Coaching Program: Application Deadline and Office Hours
- State Requirements for Virtual Instruction of Open Enrolled Students
Connect-Ed
- Nearly 200 Wisconsin Schools Recognized as High-Performing Advanced Placement (AP) Schools
- Wisconsin’s Supper Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Program for 2025-26 School Year
- A Year in Our Schools: Reflections from 2025 School Visits
- Honoring Human Rights and Celebrating Deaf Identity
- Violence Prevention Training and Grant Opportunities
DAC Digest, January 07, 2026
Upcoming Learning Events
For questions about this email list, please contact Daniel Parker, daniel.parker@dpi.wi.gov. Past updates for this email list can be found on the DPI Weekly News webpage.
02/04/2026- February Special Education/Pupil Services Leadership Virtual Academy
February 23-24, Federal Funding Conference, Kalahari, WI Dells (in-person)
02/19/26 Engage and Innovate: UDL State Conference 2026
03/04/2026- March Special Education/Pupil Services Leadership Virtual Academy
04/08/2026- April Special Education/Pupil Services Leadership Virtual Academy
05/06/2026- May Special Education/Pupil Services Leadership Virtual Academy
04/23-25, 2026: Autism Society’s 37th Annual Conference
Recurring Events
1/22/26, 2/19/26, 3/19/26, 4/16/26: Functional Behavioral Assessment Community of Practice
Monthly, every third Wednesday, 12:30-1:15: Specific Learning Disabilities Community of Practice registration link
November 2025 - January 1, 2026: 2025 WI CEC ON Demand Conference, Synergy: The Power of Working Together
Monthly October 2025 - March 2026: Supporting Neurodiverse Students: Year Long Cohort
Second Tuesdays, 1-2pm: New School Social Worker Resource Sharing Sessions
Ongoing in-person events through January: Big Feelings, Bright Futures: Understanding, Responding, and Teaching Emotional Skills in Early Childhood, Early Learning Technical Assistance and Implementation Project
For questions about this email list, please contact Daniel Parker, daniel.parker@dpi.wi.gov. Past updates for this email list can be found on the DPI Weekly News webpage.
|
