The Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System is supported by grants from the state of Wisconsin.
The Educator Effectiveness Grant (PI-1621)
In 2011, the Wisconsin Legislature passed and the governor signed into law Act 166, which created Wis. Stat. § 115.415. Act 166, in part, creates an appropriation to fund statewide implementation of the Educator Effectiveness System at $88 per educator through a grant to school districts and independent charter schools (LEAs), otherwise known as the Educator Effectiveness (EE) Grant program. The EE Grant program is an annual allocation which is non-discretionary. All LEAs required to use the EE System must apply, annually, to receive funds EE Grant funds.
To make resources available statewide, Wis. Stat. § 115.415 (2) authorized the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to charge a fee to LEAs, which are reimbursed by the EE Grant program. LEAs will receive a specific dollar amount per educator (i.e., superintendents, principals, teachers, and certain other licensed educator roles) each school year to cover the costs associated with system development, training, software, support, resources, and ongoing refinement.
The EE Grant is an annual allocation which is non-discretionary. All LEAs required to use the EE System must submit an application annually to receive funds.
The rough application timeline is as follows:
- Summer: DPI emails eligible applicants with the new EE Grant application;
- Fall: Applicants return completed applications to DPI at the contact information provided on the application;
- Late Fall/Early Winter: DPI issues grant awards to applicants as they complete the application process;
- Winter: DPI invoices state model districts and independent charters (NOTE: Once payment is received, LEAs will be unable to make changes to the EE model of record for the current school year.);
- Winter: DPI sends district administrators electronic EE claim link;
- By June 30: Awardees must encumber any grant funds and finish their grant activities; and
- By September 30: Awardees must finish expending any remaining encumbrances and submit a final claim using the previously distributed electronic claim link to receive reimbursement.
2025-26 School Year (FY26) Application Process
Early July 2025 - applications distributed to district and independent charter administrators of eligible applicants
August 29, 2025 - application deadline
Fall of 2025 - grant awards sent out
December 2025 - invoices were sent to state
model districts and independent charters
January 29, 2026 - claim reimbursement
information sent out
- complete the PI-1086 form
- submit the form by email to
Jake Smith (jake.smith@dpi.wi.gov)
and copy DPI Claim Forms (DPIClaimForms@dpi.wi.gov)
June 1, 2026 - deadline for budget modifications
- notify Educator Development Grants (EdDevGrants@dpi.wi.gov) at least 30 days before budget modifications submission
- complete the PI-1621-R form
- submit the form by email to Educator
Development Grants (EdDevGrants@dpi.wi.gov)
September 30, 2026 - deadline for claims submission
Questions? Email DPI Educator Development Grants
The Peer Review and Mentoring Grant (PI-1657)
The Peer Review and Mentoring Grant (PRMG) program provides support for public school districts, independent public charter schools, and Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESAs) to develop new or refine existing peer review and mentoring support programs for initial educators in Wisconsin. The PRMG is a competitive, discretionary grant that school districts, independent public charter schools, and CESAs may apply for annually.
For more details and PRMG impact reports: Peer Review and Mentoring Grants