Director of Special Education and Pupil Services
Timely Information
Public Comment on Wisconsin State Application Under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
As a part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B application process, the State must accept public comments on the application for 30 days and must publish the application for 60 days. We are still awaiting the FFY2026 allocation information from the Department of Education. Until then, the posted allocations and the interactive spreadsheet provide information from FFY2025. Comments about the application should be submitted to the Department of Public Instruction, P.O. Box 7841, Madison, WI 53703-7841 by 4pm on Sunday, April 20, 2026. For more information including links to the FFY2025 IDEA Part B allocation, see DPI’s website for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Federal Special Education Law and Coordination with Wisconsin Law and Regulations | Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
April is Autism Acceptance Month
Autism Acceptance Month celebrates and honors the experiences and identities of Autistic individuals. It emphasizes understanding, inclusion, and support, moving beyond awareness towards meaningful acceptance. There are many opportunities in Wisconsin to learn about autism including DPI grant funded resources and statewide family support and advocacy groups supporting people with neurodiverse needs.
- The Supporting Neurodiverse Students (SNS) Professional Learning System is a grant funded project designed to support educators serving students with IEPs in social and emotional learning. For additional information on in-person learning events, quick videos, interactive self-guided modules, and virtual cohorts, please visit the SNS webpage.
- Wisconsin is home to the Autism Society of Wisconsin and Autism United, both of which offer resources and support. Additional information on ways to promote inclusion in our communities and practice acceptance in everyday life can be found on their websites;
- Autism Society of Wisconsin
- Autism United
- Autism Acceptance Day at the Capitol On Thursday, April 2, 2026, from 12:00p.m.-2:00p.m. an event will be held in the Assembly Parlor of the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, where attendees will hear brief remarks from Autistic self-advocates, family members, and legislators.
Student Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) Mini-Grant – FY 2026 -2027
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is now accepting applications for the Student Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) Mini - FY 2026-27 Grant competition. Any K–12 student group at a public school is eligible to apply. The grant supports education, prevention, and intervention programs designed by students, targeting AODA and other youth risk behaviors that include commercial tobacco use, vaping, violence, bullying, suicide, and alcohol traffic safety. A key priority of the mini-grant program is active youth involvement. Consideration will also be given based on the educational value of the project and statewide geographic distribution of funds.
Each mini-grant award is limited to a maximum of $1,000. Schools or districts may submit multiple applications. If a school has multiple student groups, each group may submit its own application. Awards will be issued in the 2026-27 school year, contingent upon continued funding from the biennial budget. Application deadline: 11:59 P.M. on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. For more details and to access the application materials, visit the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s Student AODA Mini-Grant Program webpage. For questions, contact DPIAODA.Grant@dpi.wi.gov.
Act 72 Recovery High Schools Grant Program Announcement
Beginning March 24, 2026, and running through May 1, 2026, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) will be accepting applications for the Recovery High Schools Planning Grant and the Recovery High Schools Operational Grant, via an online portal. Established under 2023 Wisconsin Act 72, these grant programs provide funding for the planning and operation of recovery high schools in each school year to nonprofit organizations and public, private, and tribal schools.
A recovery high school is defined as a public, private, or tribal school that operates only high school grades and meets all of the following criteria: (a) the school is specifically designed for pupils in recovery from substance use or mental health challenges that coexist with a substance use; and (b) the school awards high school credits that either count towards a high school diploma awarded by the school or will transfer and count towards a high school diploma awarded by a school district.
A recipient of a planning grant may use the grant funds for any of the following:
- Hiring a consultant for planning the recovery high school.
- General program planning for the recovery high school.
- Curriculum and lesson planning for the recovery high school.
- Mental health services planning for the recovery high school.
- Any other costs incurred to develop a final plan for establishing a recovery high school.
A recipient of an operational grant may use the grant funds for any of the following:
- To employ school staff, including teachers and counselors.
- To rent, or otherwise secure, a physical location for the school.
- To purchase drug testing supplies.
- To develop and implement an afterschool and weekend sober activity program.
- For transportation of pupils.
- For legal and accounting services.
- General administrative costs, including insurance, office supplies and equipment, and phone and internet costs.
Grant award amounts for the planning and operational grants will vary depending on the number of currently operating recovery schools in Wisconsin and the number of applicants for each grant program.
The application portal, application materials, the grant program guidance document, and the grant application scoring rubric are available at DPI’s Act 72 Recovery High School Grants Program webpage.
Applications will be accepted from March 24, 2026-May 1, 2026. All applications must be submitted via the application portal; no paper applications will be accepted. The project performance period of the grant is July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027. For questions about the grant and the application process, please contact Erick Blasing at 608-266-3903 or erick.blasing@dpi.wi.gov.
Resources
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. Pathways to Success: Community of Practice fo r more information and registration. Meetings are free and virtual 3:45-4:45PM on May 11, 2026.
Resource Reminder: Individualized Education Program (IEP) Timelines, Evaluation Timelines and Parent Resources
DPI has a number of resources that may be helpful for educators and families supporting the College and Career Ready (CCR) IEP and comprehensive special education evaluation processes. Some of the key resources are listed below.
- Information for parents can be found on the Special Education Information for Families webpage including pages dedicated to resources explaining parent and student rights, resources for parents and families, family support and advocacy organizations, family and educator capacity building, and information about the Indicator 8 Family Engagement Survey.
Other DPI News
Ed Leaders Dispatch, March 17, 2026
- DPI Website Updates Underway to Meet ADAQ Digital Accessibility Requirements
- Questions about 4K and Get Kids Ready
- FAFSA Filing Status Now Available in WISEdash for Districts
Connect-Ed, March 17, 2026
- DPI Website Modernization Project
- Mosinee Junior Turns FCCLA Success Into Opportunities for Others
- Celebrate Earth Day 2026 by Playing Cool Choices
- Explore a Hopeful Climate Future with New ‘Field Notes on Climate’ Collection from PBS Wisconsin Education
- Education for Homeless children and Youth Grant Opportunities
News Releases
- Wisconsin’s 2026 Outstanding Educators Recognized by Herb Kohl Educational Foundation
DAC Digest, March 25, 2026
DAC Digest, March 18, 2026
Upcoming Learning Events
WCASS Spring Conference
Join WCASS in La Crosse this April 29 to May 01 at the La Crosse Convention Center for a conference focused on High Leverage Practices (HLPs). Keynote speaker Michael Kennedy will help you move from theory to systemic implementation, while Thursday’s breakout sessions feature local experts sharing practical strategies for academic and behavioral improvement. You are highly encouraged to bring a team. For more information on registration and team discounts, visit the WCASS website.
2026 WI FACETS Endless Possibilities Conference - Save the Date
Date: August 7, 2026
Topics: Advocacy in Education and Beyond
Location: Waukesha County Technical College, Pewaukee, WI
The annual Endless Possibilities conference invites families and professionals who support students with disabilities to learn and grow together. We encourage open dialogue between families and professionals to discuss positive solutions for all our students with special needs in Wisconsin. Please join us! For more information, visit the Endless Possibilities Conference webpage.
Additional Events
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 09, 2026: Virtual: Technical Assistance for Indicator 14 and Low Response Rate (7:15- 8AM)
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
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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