Director of Special Education and Pupil Services
Timely Information
Transition Readiness Grant (TRG) Applications Due May 1, 2026
Transition Readiness Grant applications for the 2026-27 school year are due on Friday, May 1, 2026. School districts and independent charter schools under Wis. Stat. 118.40 (2r) and (2x) are eligible to compete for funding for FY 27 that supports evidence-based practices related to the successful transition from high school for students with IEPs. Applications are submitted online directly to DPI.
The $1.5 million fund will support:
- Transportation Options (including contracted services or vehicle purchases)
- Competitive Integrated Employment Training (CIE) Programs
- Post-secondary Tuition/Supports for Students
- Transition Training for Staff Members
Interested applicants can find more information on the DPI Transition Readiness Grant webpage.
DPI Website Feedback Form
As part of the Department of Public Instruction’s strategic plan and commitment to modernizing and improving the agency, our department is undertaking a major update to our external website (dpi.wi.gov). Over the next several months, you will notice changes to portions of our website, including updates to information and various resources including WISEGrants. During this transition, some resources or information may be temporarily unavailable and/or relocated on our website. These improvements are part of our commitment to making our website and materials more usable for you and fully accessible to all. We understand how important these resources are to your work, and ensuring they are accessible to everyone is the primary focus of this effort.
This feedback process will ensure the federal grants and programming staff are tracking and appropriately responding to the needs of the field. Please know that the agency’s current focus on webpage accessibility is to ensure that all legally required information is available for public consumption. Complete this form, Federal Grants and Special Education New Website Feedback Form, to ensure your concern or challenge will be addressed in a timely fashion.
Graduate Coursework for Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments
The Northern Illinois University (NIU) Vision Studies Program is working with partners in the state of Wisconsin to offer graduate coursework in the area of Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI). The classes are planned to be offered through a combination of in-person and online coursework in the state of Wisconsin.
Within the state of Wisconsin, there is no TVI personnel preparation program. NIU has a longstanding (nearly 70 years!) fully AER accredited Vision Studies program that prepares professionals to meet the personnel shortage in the area of TVI. No prior education or background in the area of Vision Studies is required. An undergraduate degree of any kind is required but no prior education or background requirements other than that. Deadline to have application materials submitted to the NIU Graduate School for a fall 2026 cohort is coming up May 15th, 2026. Email Stacy Kelly at skelly@niu.edu for details and next steps.
Resources
New, FREE Learning Opportunity for Teams of Wisconsin District & School Leaders
The Wisconsin Principal and Special Education Director IDEA Leadership Community of Practice is a sustained, collaborative learning experience designed for teams of principals, assistant principals, special education directors, and other leaders from the same district. Districts may register up to four representatives to participate as a team.
Across four interactive sessions, teams will learn together, share ideas, and engage in real-world problem-solving focused on strengthening collective leadership to champion the success of students with disabilities.
By participating as a district team, leaders will have dedicated time and structure to align perspectives, strengthen collaboration across roles, and translate shared learning into actionable next steps.
Session Dates & Times:
- June 16, June 18, and June 22 | 1:00–2:00 PM CT
- June 23 | 10:00–11:00 AM CT
This opportunity is offered in partnership with the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators (AWSA), Lead IDEA Center, Wisconsin Association of School Personnel Administrators (WASPA), Wisconsin Council of Administrators of Special Services (WCASS), and Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). Click on this Link to Register Your District’s Team
Other DPI News
Ed Leaders Dispatch, April 21, 2026
- DLM, Forward, and PreACT Secure Test Windows Extended to May 01
- Federal Accessibility Deadline Extended One Year
- Help Shape Wisconsin’s Portrait of a Graduate: Listening Sessions Begin Next Week
News Releases
- DPI Recognizes 95 Schools for Outstanding Achievement and Progress, April 21, 2026
DAC Digest, April 22, 2026
Upcoming Learning Events
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
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
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