Timely Information
2026 WCASS and DPI Special Education & Pupil Services Conference
Starting in fall 2026, DPI has made some changes to the State Superintendent’s Conference on Special Education and Pupil Services Leadership. In partnership with the Wisconsin Council of Administrators of Specialized Services (WCASS), DPI is coordinating a pre-conference day called the DPI Special Education and Pupil Services Pre-Conference. The agenda for the DPI pre-conference will follow a similar structure as DPI’s previous Special Education and Pupil Services Leadership conferences.
The full day pre-conference will continue to include content identified by DPI to support special education and pupil services leadership including:
- DPI legal updates
- A variety of sectionals highlighting DPI speakers, projects, and resources
- WCASS membership not required to attend
Some changes include:
- New name: DPI Special Education and Pupil Services Pre-Conference
- Single registration system and conference day support through WCASS
The DPI Special Education and Pupil Services Pre-Conference will be held October 14, 2026, followed by a two-day WCASS conference on October 15th and 16th at the Wilderness Resort, Glacier Canyon Conference Center in the Wisconsin Dells.
Attendees may select either the pre-conference day only, the WCASS two-day conference only, or all three days. Link to Registration
Request for Participation in National Study of Special Education Spending
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) at the U.S. Department of Education is starting a critical new effort, the National Study of Special Education Spending (NSSES). This study is being conducted as part of the National Assessment of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), mandated by Congress to collect information that can inform future updates to the law. It is expected that state and district recipients of IDEA funds are expected to participate (Education Department General Administrative Regulations, 34 C.F.R. § 76.591).
This study will provide policymakers and special education administrators with the first national estimates in more than two decades on how and how much states and districts spend educating students with disabilities. It is critical that Wisconsin’s unique experiences are reflected in this national effort. IES and its partners will collect information from some districts and schools during the school year 2026-27.
DPI strongly encourages selected districts requested to participate in the study to do so. Your participation will support future funding and federal education policy efforts.
For questions and participation in the study, please contact Matthew Soldner, Acting Director of the Institute of Education Sciences at matthew.soldner@ed.gov, or Tammy Kolbe, Principal Investigator at NSSES@AIR.org.
For additional questions, please contact DPI’s Special Education Program Advisor, Tessa Freedberg, at Tessa.freedberg@dpi.wi.gov.
Reminder: Wisconsin Induction Program for Special Education Leaders (WIPSEL) Still Accepting Nominations After Deadline
The Regional Special Education Network (RSN), along with DPI and WCASS, are pleased to announce that nominations are still open for the inaugural cohorts of the Wisconsin Induction Program for Special Education Leaders (WIPSEL).
The Wisconsin Induction Program for Special Education Leaders (WIPSEL) is intended to increase retention and build capacity for novice special education leaders. WIPSEL provides a blended model of professional learning, coaching and support directly to special education leaders throughout the state who are in their first 5 years of the profession. The WI DPI, in partnership with regional staff (Regional Special Education Network - RSN) and the state’s professional affiliate (Wisconsin Council for Administrators of Special Services - WCASS) has selected key High Leverage Practices (as defined and operationalized by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and the CEEDAR Center) and key special education leadership principles and competencies (as defined by WCASS) around which to provide training, coaching and ongoing support. The intent of these areas of focus is to build special education leaders’ capacity in the adaptive change and instruction required to drive and lead the implementation of those practices at the classroom and district level. This work is grounded in our moral, ethical, and professional obligation to meet the needs of each and every student. To that end, this partnership is focused on improving adult practices so that all students benefit, particularly those with IEPs.
To view the partnership agreement for this program, please click on the partnership agreement link here.
Who Should Attend?
- Special Education Directors in their first five years of the profession
- Licensed as a Director of Special Education (Completed or is enrolled in an approved program leading to licensure as a Director of Special Education and Pupil Services)
- Individuals who have primary responsibility for the special education department and work collaboratively with building leadership and classroom teachers to improve student outcomes in their district(s)
Previously communication of this opportunity stated nominations closed on May 22, 2026 but there are still opportunities so please follow up to see if spots are still available if interested as soon as possible as we would like to fill all available spots.
Twenty-four participants will be selected and will be placed in one of two cohorts. To nominate yourself or a colleague for the WIPSEL program, please complete this online form. Questions may be directed to Jennifer Ledin, RSN Statewide Coordinator, at jenniferl@cesa12.org or Erin Faasuamalie, at erin.faasuamalie@dpi.wi.gov
Help Shape the Draft Wisconsin Early Learning and Development Guidelines!
We invite early childhood professionals, families, and the public to review and share feedback on the draft Wisconsin Early Learning and Development Guidelines (ELDG) by August 21. The files and survey link are available on the ELDG project website.
After the public review, Marzano Research will analyze the feedback and make final edits, then translate into Spanish and finalize the updated WI ELDGs. The Department of Children and Families, the Department of Public Instruction, and the Department of Health Services are grateful for your support.
Grant Opportunity: Enhancing Social and Emotional Skills in Students with IEPs (ES3) One Year Grant
As DPI reviews the data of Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) with high use of seclusion and restraint, we want to provide opportunities to support district and school teams to implement evidence-based improvement strategies to better meet the needs of students whose behavior interferes with their learning or the learning of others.
Through coaching, professional learning, and resources to implement evidence-based improvement strategies, the Enhancing Social and Emotional Skills for Students with IEPs (ES3) One Year Grant supports districts and school teams through a continuous improvement process to identify root cause, develop a district or school goal, select evidence‐based improvement strategies, and create an aligned district or school improvement plan to reduce the use of seclusion and restraint, shortened school days, or disproportionate discipline. There are flexible commitment and funding options available from $5,000, requiring a 5-meeting commitment, up to $10,000 requiring a 10-meeting commitment. For additional information and technical assistance in completing the grant application, please schedule a conversation with Supporting Neurodiverse Students (SNS) district coordinator, Resa Hawes, using this booking link.
To see the application, please go to the PI-2108 ES3 One Year Grant Application form.
Applications must be received by September 1, 2026.Questions regarding the ES3 One Year Grant may be directed to Eva Shaw at eva.shaw@dpi.wi.gov.
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