September 2, 2025

Kicking Off a New School Year, Together

Welcome back to a new school year!

Please find a message from State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly on the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s YouTube, and an opinion article on the importance of supporting public education available in The Cap Times.

This year marks the launch of the DPI’s Strategic Plan, designed to guide the DPI's mission of advancing equitable, transformative, and sustainable educational experiences that develop learners, schools, libraries, and communities in Wisconsin. This plan was built upon feedback from our listening sessions across the state and builds on four priority areas:

• Innovative Education
• Educator Recruitment and Retention
• Learner and Educator Mental Health
• Modernization and Improvement of the DPI

More information on the DPI’s Strategic Plan can be found in this resource and also on the department’s website.

Thank you for your continued leadership and commitment. Together, with your partnership, we can ensure every learner in Wisconsin has access to the opportunities and support they need to thrive.

Federal Focus: Updates on Latest Information

As the new school year begins, we’re launching this recurring section in EdLeaders Dispatch to keep you informed on important developments at the federal level.

This space will feature timely updates, guidance, resources, and other information impacting K-12 education.

• On Aug. 26, 2025, Wisconsin received a letter from the Department of Health and Human Services regarding State Personal Responsibility Education Program grants, which support education on adolescent development, healthy life skills and healthy relationships. As the grant recipient, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services received the letter. The DPI is currently reviewing the letter in coordination with the DHS and seeking legal guidance. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.
• The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has delayed some federal grant awards, including Title III, Part A, which supports language instruction, family engagement, and professional learning for Wisconsin English Learners and immigrant students in Wisconsin.

Despite the federal government rescinding certain guidelines related to students learning English, local education agencies remain legally required to provide effective programming.

The DPI continues to support districts through the English Learner Policy Handbook, which outlines best practices and expectations for serving multilingual students. Wisconsin’s Bilingual-Bicultural Education Law (Wisconsin Statute 115.95) and PI-13, set legal requirements for identifying and supporting English learners, ensuring they have meaningful access to grade-level instruction while acquiring English proficiency. The DPI has also developed a Language Instruction Educational Programs (LIEP) Crosswalk, which outlines research-based program models for serving English learners.

We remain committed to helping districts implement evidence-based practices that support language development and academic success.

Public Comment & Review Now Open for Wisconsin Academic Standards

The public comment and public review periods for several subjects is now open for several academic areas.

• Computer Science and Information Technology Literacy are open for public comment. This means these standards have been revised over the past year and are now available for public feedback.
• Music, Social Studies, the Essential Elements for Social Studies, and Theatre Arts are open for public review. This means these standards may go to revision over the next year. This decision is partially dependent on public review and input on whether revision is needed.

These standards will be open for either public comment or public review through Oct. 1, 2025. For more information, please visit the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s website.

The DPI has a comprehensive process for reviewing and revising academic standards. This process starts with a notice of intent to review, with the State Superintendent’s Academic Standards Review Council reviewing the comments and recommending whether or not a revision is necessary. After state superintendent authorization, a state writing committee revises standards for all grade levels. The draft standards are then available for public review and feedback prior to adoption.

Wisconsin Academic Standards are not requirements. They serve as goals for teaching and learning and specify what students should know and be able to do in the classroom at a given grade level. Every seven years, each academic area of standards go through the review and possible revision process. Additional information on Wisconsin Academic Standards can be found on the DPI’s website.

Review and Provide Feedback on Draft Wisconsin Framework for Principal Leadership Revisions

During the 2024-25 school year, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators, the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators, and the Wisconsin Evaluation Collaborative convened a working group of school and district leaders to review and update the Wisconsin Framework for Principal Leadership. This is the evaluation framework that is used in the state model of the Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness (EE) System.

We are now seeking your feedback on proposed revisions to the framework. Public input is open through Oct. 1, 2025.

• A brief summary of the proposed revisions is available here.
• The full, draft revised WFPL is available here.
• Feedback can be submitted through this Qualtrics survey form.

More about the Wisconsin EE System can be found on the DPI's website. If you have questions, please submit them via this form.

Save the Date! 2025 State of Education Address

Mark your calendars for September 18 at Noon!

State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly will deliver the 2025 State of Education Address at the Wisconsin State Capitol.