Director of Special Education and Pupil Services
Timely Information
2025 Preliminary Joint Notifications Now Available
The 2025 Preliminary Joint Federal Notifications (JFN) are now available in DPI’s Secure Access File Exchange (SAFE). Click to view the DPI SAFE webpage for additional instructions. Please refer to the February 17 EdLeaders Dispatch and the February 19 DAC Digest for more information.
DPI Employment Opportunity
The Student Services Section within the Bureau of Teaching and Learning is seeking applicants for a School Psychologist-Senior position. This is a Project position and has an end date of November 30, 2029. This is a part-time, year-round position (58%) that is designed to innovate and work across systems to improve outcomes for justice-involved youth. The incumbent will work in a one-of-a-kind, nationally recognized facility (Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center in Madison, WI) in partnership with a team of Department of Health Services professionals and in collaboration with other state agencies. For more information and to apply, see the WISC Jobs Webpage for this position.
Deadline Extension 2026 American Printing House for the Blind (APH) Federal Quota Program Census
The deadline for submitting of data for the 2026 APH Federal Quota Program Census, for students who are blind, visually impaired and deafblind, has been extended to Friday, February 27th. If you have any further questions, please reach out to aphcensus@wcbvi.k12.wi.us.
2026-27 Transition Readiness Grant Applications Available March 3, 2026
School districts and charter schools under Wis. Stat. 118.40(2r) and (2x) are eligible to compete for funding that supports evidence-based practices related to the successful transition from high school for students with IEPs. The $1.5 million fund will support:
- Transportation options (including contracted services or vehicle purchases)
- Competitive Integrated Employment Training (CIE) Programs
- Post-secondary tuition or supports for students
- Transition Training for Staff Members
Grant awards must be not less than $25,000 and not more than $100,000. Grant applications and supporting materials will be available on the Transition Readiness Grant webpage on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. A webinar for interested applicants will be held on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, from 11am-12pm. Link to webinar registration.
DVR Waitlist
On December 2, 2025, the Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) began a waitlist for services due to a lack of funding. While the waitlist is in place, DVR can continue to provide a limited set of pre-employment transition services (Pre-Ets) to students with IEPs. For information on the waitlist and accessing services for students, please visit the Order of Selection Fact Sheet or the Frequently Asked Questions Webpage. High school students with disabilities should continue to be referred to DVR at least two years prior to high school exit or earlier, based on the individual’s needs and or situation.
New Resources
2025 Indicator 14 Survey Maps Now Available
The indicator 14 Post School Survey helps describe the further education and competitive employment experiences of youth with disabilities as they transition from high school to adult life. The survey collects an unduplicated, hierarchical count of the activities in which youth are participating within one year after leaving high school. The 2025 Indicator 14 survey includes youth with disabilities who exited high school with a diploma, certificate of attendance, reached maximum age, or those who dropped out of high school during the 2023-2024 school year. Visit the Indicator 14 interactive map to learn more about postschool outcomes in your area.
New Bulletin: Transition Planning and Services for Students with IEPs
Transition planning is the process that supports students with disabilities and their families to think about and prepare for life after high school. The process helps students identify long-range goals, design the high school experience to ensure that students gain the skills and connections they need to achieve these goals after high school. In Wisconsin, transition planning requirements begin in the first individualized education program (IEP) that will be in effect when the child is 14 (or sooner if appropriate) and are updated annually thereafter. This new bulletin was developed based on frequent questions related to the transition planning process. See Bulletin 26.01: Transition Planning and Services for Students with IEPs for more information. This bulletin is posted on the DPI Special Education Bulletins webpage.
New Resource for Teams Working with Students Who Are Deafblind
Wisconsin DPI is pleased to share a new resource to support educational teams working with students who are deafblind. Student Need for an Intervener: A Guided Team Discussion It helps IEP teams understand the role of interveners and when their support may be appropriate. It provides background information and considerations to guide conversations about a student’s access to communication and learning. Serving as a first step in considering an intervener, the resource complements other intervener resources available through Wisconsin DPI. Additional information, including this resource, is available on the DPI School-Based Intervener webpage.
Other DPI News
Ed Leaders Dispatch, February 17, 2026
- Access Preliminary 2024-25 ESSA/IDEA Reports in SAFE
- Explore America 250 Resources
- Virtual Training for School Safety Partners
- 2026 Purple Star School Application Window
Connect-Ed
- Register for WESP-DHH Summer Experience Programs
- Join an Upcoming School Safety Training
- New Health Education Standards Promote Lifelong Health and Success
- Xello Selected as Wisconsin’s Academic and Career Planning Software
- Meet the Crossing Guard that Keeps Kids Safe
News Releases
DAC Digest, February 19, 2026
ACT Updates, February 17, 2026
Upcoming Learning Events
February 23-24: Federal Funding Conference, Wisconsin Dells (in-person)
February 24, 2026: Anti-Human Trafficking Documentary Screening and Discussion (3-4 PM virtual)
February 24, 2026 (9:00-11:00): Community of Practice on Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Developmental Disabilities, (Virtual)
March 04, 2026: AT Forward CoP: Feature Matching Adaptive Living Skills (12-1 PM Virtual)
March 04, 2026: Special Education/Pupil Services Leadership Virtual Academy (10 AM- 12PM Virtual)
March 10, 2026: PTP for New Middle and High School Teachers (9 AM- 3PM In Person)
March 24, 2026: OT and PT CoP: Inclusive services breakout session- OT and PT specific conversations (3:30-4:30 Virtual)
April 1st, 2026: Abacus and Learning Media Assessment Professional Development. Steven’s Point. Registration closes April 1st, (In-person)
April 08, 2026: Special Education/Pupil Services Leadership Virtual Academy (9 AM- 12 PM Virtual)
April 11, 2026 (10:00-4:00). Tactile Graphics Workshop. Wisconsin Rapids. Registration closes March 6th, (In-person)
April 14, 2026: Interactive and Personalized Literacy for Students Who are Deafblind (Virtual)
April 14, 2026: Best Practices in Transition Planning (9 AM – 3PM In Person)
April 23, 2026: Best Practices in Transition Planning (9 AM – 3PM In Person)
April 23-25, 2026: Autism Society’s 37th Annual Conference, Wisconsin Dells (In-Person)
April 28, 2026: AT Forward CoP: Coaching for Sustainable Assistive Technology Impact (12-1 PM Virtual)
May 05, 2026: OT and PT CoP: Breakout Sessions Hot Topics (3:30-4:30 Virtual)
May 05, 2026: WI Statewide Transition Networking – Educators Only (9 AM – 2:30PM In Person)
May 06, 2026: AT Forward CoP: Accessible Gadgets for Gamers: Evaluating and Applying Video Game Accessibility in Therapeutic Settings (12-1 PM Virtual)
May 06, 2026: Special Education/Pupil Services Leadership Virtual Academy (10 AM- 12 PM Virtual)
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
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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