Director of Special Education and Pupil Services
Timely Information
Schools and Immigration: Guidance and Resources
To support you and your communities as you respond to questions and concerns related to immigration enforcement, the DPI has created a dedicated webpage with guidance and resources. On this webpage, you will find information regarding: Legal rights of educators, students, and families, Trauma-sensitive practices, and Virtual instruction.
Webinar Resource to Support Children During Immigration Enforcement
The Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health recorded a webinar on January 16 and made the recording available until April 2026. The link and title of the webinar is Supporting Children During Immigration Enforcement Operations. Many children from immigrant and refugee families have loved ones at risk of deportation. For these children, immigration enforcement operations in a community can pose a risk to mental health and development. Fortunately, supportive adults in a child’s life can play a large role in protecting children’s mental health and promoting positive development. This training offers concrete strategies that adults can use to support children during periods of uncertainty and fear.
Additional resources:
New Resources
Special Education Bulletins Available in Spanish
DPI recently translated several special education bulletins into Spanish. These can be found on the DPI Special Education Bulletins webpage. They have also been added to the DPI Spanish language special education topics webpage that contain a wide variety of DPI resources in Spanish.
IEP Team Resource for Deafblind Special Factor Considerations
DPI recently released a new resource for IEP teams to assist in the discussion of special factors when a student is deafblind. Click to view Guidelines for Discussion on Consideration of Special Factors when a Student is Deafblind. This resource can be found on the DPI Guidance for Implementing Wisconsin Deafblind Disability Category Criteria webpage.
Resource Reminder: Wisconsin Wayfinder
Do you have families seeking additional resources for their child with a disability in your community or through statewide services? The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) created the Wisconsin Wayfinder: Children’s Resource Network. Wisconsin Wayfinder supports families of children with delays, disabilities, special health care needs, and mental health conditions. Children’s resource guides are helpers who assist families, caregivers, professionals, and organizations in finding a wide array of supports and services available through the Children’s Resource Network. Their services are free and confidential. Considering sharing this resource through IEP team meetings, school and district webpages, and through consultation for families seeking additional support.
Other DPI News
Ed Leaders Dispatch, January 27, 2026
- Schools and Immigration: Guidance and Resources
News Releases
- DPI Announces Private Schools Registered for Private Choice Programs for 2026-27 School Year
- Open Enrollment Application Period for 2026-27 School Year Opens Monday
DAC Digest, January 28, 2026.
ACT Updates, January 30, 2026
Upcoming Learning Events
Tactile Graphics Workshop
This event will be held at Mid-State Technical College in Wisconsin Rapids on Saturday, April 11th, 2026, from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Please complete the Tactile Graphics Workshop Registration Form to attend this full day workshop. Registration will close on Friday, March 6th, 2026.
Abacus and Learning Media Assessment Professional Development
This event will be held at Mid-State Technical College in Steven’s Point, Wisconsin on Wednesday, April 29th, 2026. Please complete the APH Professional Development Registration Form to sign up for these sessions. Registration will close on April 1st, 2026.
Save the Date: Community of Practice on Autism Spectrum Disorder and other Developmental Disabilities (CoP ASD/DD)
Save the date for the next free, virtual CoP ASD/DD gathering on February 24, 9-11am. In partnership with the Wisconsin Autism Transition Demonstration (WAuTD) Project Coalition, the morning’s conversation will be about moving into adulthood. There will be an introduction on some of the important topics of transition, updates on the WAuTD project, and an opportunity for small group discussion. Additional information can be found on the Connections CoP ASD/DD webpage.
Additional Events
February 04, 2026: February Special Education/Pupil Services Leadership Virtual Academy (Virtual)
February 19, 2026: UDL Conference 2026 updated registration flier , (Virtual)
February 23-24: Federal Funding Conference, Wisconsin Dells (in-person)
February 24, 2026 (9:00-11:00): Community of Practice on Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Developmental Disabilities, (Virtual)
March 04, 2026: March Special Education/Pupil Services Leadership Virtual Academy, (Virtual)
April 08, 2026: April Special Education/Pupil Services Leadership Virtual Academy, (Virtual)
April 11, 2026 (10:00-4:00). Tactile Graphics Workshop. Wisconsin Rapids. Registration closes March 6th, (In-person)
April 1st, 2026: Abacus and Learning Media Assessment Professional Development. Steven’s Point. Registration closes April 1st, (In-person)
May 06, 2026: May Special Education/Pupil Services Leadership Virtual Academy, (Virtual)
Wisconsin Dells, April 23-25, 2026: Autism Society’s 37th Annual Conference, (In-Person)
Recurring Events
Early Learning Technical Assistance and Implementation Professional Learning Opportunities
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
DPI does not sponsor or endorse any external resources or events. They are provided for your consideration. 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.
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