Licensing requirements
Director of Special Education and Pupil Services. (a) Except as specified under par. (b), a director of special education and pupil services license is required of a person to administer a special education program or a pupil services program, or both. For a license under this subsection, the applicant shall have completed an approved program leading to licensure as a director of special education and pupil services. (b) Persons who hold a current special education supervisor-level A license may be issued a license under this subsection. PI 34.32 (5), Wisconsin Administrative Code.
The special education leadership staff person who holds a current 80 or 81 license is the primary contact for the DPI Special Education Team. When an LEA does not employ an individual with an 80 or 81 license, the responsible staff person is the district administrator.
The department provides additional support to special education leadership personnel through the WI Regional Special Education Network (RSN) - an alliance of CESA special educators who promote continuous school improvement to support full educational opportunities for children and youth with disabilities.
2021-22 Special Education and Pupil Services Leadership Academy
New Directors Meetings 2021-2022 Tentative Topics
To support new special education leaders as they strive to meet the challenges of their new positions, in collaboration with Wisconsin Council of Administrators of Special Services (WCASS), the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Special Education and Student Services Prevention and Wellness Teams are hosting a year-long virtual meeting opportunity for the 2021-22 school year. This event is geared toward first and second-year Directors of Special Education and Pupil Services, Special Education Coordinators, or Designees. If you are an experienced leader, please pass this information on to a colleague who is new to the role. DPI staff members, along with WCASS and your local Regional Special Education Network Directors (RSN), will present sessions addressing a variety of procedural and relevant topics.
2021-22 Academy for New Special Education and Pupil Services Leadership-
January 5, 2022
Register now for the Academy for New Special Education and Pupil Services Leadership Meeting scheduled for January 5, 2022. Marge Resan will be sharing information on Seclusion and Restraint and Jen Demrow will be joining us to discuss Open Enrollment.
To register, click on this registration link. Participants must register for each event in order to receive the Zoom link invitation.
2021-22 Academy for New Special Education and Pupil Services Leadership-
January 26, 2022
Register now for the Academy for New Special Education and Pupil Services Leadership Meeting scheduled for January 26, 2022. Melanie Sickinger and Kathy Ryder will continue to share information on an EMLSS.
To register, click on this registration link. Participants must register for each event in order to receive the Zoom link invitation.
February 23, 2022
Register now for the Academy for New Special Education and Pupil Services Leadership Meeting scheduled for February 23, 2022. Eva Shaw will be sharing information on the ES3 Application.
To register, click on this registration link. Participants must register for each event in order to receive the Zoom link invitation.
Recordings from meetings will be posted into the table below.
| Date | Agenda Items | Link |
|---|---|---|
| July 19, 2021 |
|
Zoom |
| August 25, 2021 |
|
Zoom |
| September 22, 2021 |
|
Zoom |
| October 6, 2021 |
|
Zoom |
| October 20, 2021 |
|
Zoom |
| November 22, 2021 |
|
Zoom |
| December 8, 2021 |
|
Zoom |
| January 5, 2022 |
|
Zoom |
| January 26, 2022 | Coming soon | |
| February 23, 2022 | Coming soon | |
| March 23, 2022 | Coming soon | |
| April 20, 2022 | Coming soon | |
| May 18, 2022 | Coming soon |
Information and recordings from the 2020-21 school year are archived on the 2020-21 leadership webpage.