Director of Special Education and Pupil Services
Timely Information
Join Wisconsin Educators Driving Systems Innovation at the Summer Institute 2026
Don’t miss your chance to join one of Wisconsin’s most energizing professional learning experiences of the year! The 2026 Summer Institute, hosted by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), brings school teams together for four days of deep learning, collaboration, and innovation.
Deadline to Apply: Friday May 1, 2026
Location: Lowenwood Education Center, Land O’ Lakes
Dates: June 22 – 25, 2026
What Your Team Receives
Participating teams will engage in a professional learning experience designed to spark creativity and support systems-level change. Your team will receive:
- $2,000 in implementation funds to support innovation work, provide honoraria to staff, or meet other identified needs
- Explicit, systems-level professional development from Wisconsin educators engaging in innovative work to highlight what is possible
- Ongoing support throughout the 2026-2027 school year via online sessions to help operationalize your action plan
What Past Participants Have Said
- “I loved the variety of speakers! Having Wisconsin people from Wisconsin schools model what is possible gave me hope.”
- “Meeting directly with folks who were invested in improving systems and pursuing PBL learning, helping each other generate new ideas, and building a sense of solidarity with other educators was SO rewarding.”
- “It was powerful to engage with like-minded educators from around the state in the work of innovation for student learning. So often we are in spaces with the nay-sayers and are therefore restrained in some ways from fully expressing our ideas and dreams. This was a beautiful space for a short moment in time when we could move beyond those restraints to dream big.”
Key Highlights of the Institute
- Hands-on activities: Explicit support in creating an action plan to implement innovative practices in your district
- Informative sessions: Insights from Wisconsin educators and experts on the most current innovative education efforts
- Interactive discussions: Meaningful conversations with peers to share ideas, challenges, and successes
- Networking opportunities: Build relationships with educators and leaders from across the state
Ready to Transform Learning in Wisconsin? We look forward to your participation in this transformative event. Together, we can create a brighter future for our students, educators, and communities. Learn more and apply: Summer Institute: Transforming Systems for Innovation . Apply here 2026 Summer Institute District Application.
Free Virtual Event: Protecting Students from Online Threats
Thursday, April 30 | 9:00 - 10:00 AM CST
The Office of School Safety (OSS) is pleased to join the DOJ’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) in a virtual learning opportunity for school safety partners. During this session, experts from ICAC will brief participants on current online trends adversely impacting youth, including sextortion of children, and update participants on ICAC’s efforts to address these ever-growing concerns.
ICAC and OSS will share actionable recommendations to prevent online harm and provide guidance on how to respond effectively to youth facing online threats, sextortion, and grooming. OSS will present information about Speak Up Speak Out and how they are partnering with ICAC to keep kids safe in schools and homes. For more information and registration, please see the event flyer.
Resources
Wisconsin’s Special Educators Induction Program Now Accepting Nominations
As part of DPI’s Strategic Plan for the recruitment and retention of teachers, Wisconsin’s Special Educator Induction Program is in its fourth year of supporting new special educators across the state! 95% of previous participants have indicated they are likely to remain in their previous position or in special education following the completion of the induction program. In partnership, each CESA will offer a three-year induction program for new special educators which includes professional learning, coaching, and embedded support to increase staff retention. The induction program is designed for first or second year special educators and special educators holding a License with Stipulations. In addition, continued focused learning, coaching, and support are available for participants who completed the first year of induction and return for a second and third year. There will be no cost to the school district, and districts will receive a stipend per participant per year to offset the costs associated with the induction program.
Participation in the induction program will not result in DPI licensure but is intended to supplement any Educator Preparation Program. Your local CESA will be sending a nomination and commitment form to each district in the near future. This opportunity is made possible through Individuals with Disabilities Education Act federal funds. For more information, please see Resources to Attract, Prepare, and Retain Special Educators webpage and contact your local CESA to nominate your new special educators and returning induction participants.
Other DPI News
Ed Leaders Dispatch, April 14, 2026
- America 250 Resources and School Requirement
- DPI Applications Transition to MyWisconisn ID (Effective July 01, 2026)
- Act 72 Recovery High School Grant Program
- New Grant Opportunities
- April is School Library Month
News Releases
- State Superintendent Celebrates Two FCCLA National Finalists, April 16, 2026
DAC Digest, April 15, 2026
Upcoming Learning Events
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
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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