EdLeaders Dispatch

September 11, 2026, marks the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Wisconsin law also designates September 11 as an observance day and encourages schools to appropriately recognize the anniversary. 

The DPI has launched a new landing page with information and resources related to 2025 Wisconsin Act 89, including requirements for appropriate communication with pupils.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has published the training module supporting the requirements enacted by 2025 Wisconsin Act 89, which addresses appropriate communication with pupils. Wisconsin State Statute requires each school board, governing body of a private school, and governing board of a charter school to provide its employees training in identifying, preventing, and reporting grooming and professional boundary violations. 

As schools prepare to implement the requirements of 2025 Wisconsin Act 89, the DPI wanted to share additional information about the training module, school responsibilities, and the requirements of the law. We are sharing the following clarifications to help schools prepare for the upcoming school year.

Beginning with this edition, EdLeaders Dispatch is being delivered in a new and improved way to make it easier for school leaders to stay informed about what's happening across Wisconsin education.

The Department of Public Instruction has re-opened the early literacy partial curriculum reimbursement grant application. The current reimbursement application is open through Sept. 30, 2026, with reimbursements expected to begin in December 2026.

This year, the survey includes the required submission of each district’s board-approved wireless communication device policy under 2025 Wisconsin Act 42. Rather than creating a separate reporting process, the DPI incorporated this requirement into the existing Digital Learning Survey to reduce duplicate reporting. The 2026-27 Wisconsin Digital Learning Survey is due Sept. 1, 2026.

Wisconsin law requires public, charter, and private high schools to provide students in grades 9-12 access to at least 18 credits of college courses through ECCP at a UW System, private, or Tribal college located in Wisconsin. Students may take courses for both high school and college credit or for college credit only.

The Department of Public Instruction is asking Wisconsin high school principals to nominate outstanding seniors for the 2027 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. Nominations are due Oct. 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

The public period for the draft Wisconsin Early Learning Developments Guidelines has closed. The draft guidelines, formerly known as the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards (WMELS), are now being reviewed and revised based on public feedback. A final version is expected to be published for implementation during the 2026-27 school year.