Office of Strategic Initiatives
The Office of Strategic Initiatives leads the agency’s cross-cutting work to plan, implement, and evaluate high-priority initiatives that advance DPI’s mission, vision, and strategic plan. This office plays a central role in aligning agency efforts, supporting innovation, and ensuring that DPI’s programs and policies are responsive to the needs of Wisconsin’s students, educators, and communities.
Serving as a bridge across divisions, the Office of Strategic Initiatives coordinates internal planning and performance systems while advancing DPI’s priorities of Educator Recruitment and Retention, Innovative Education, Learner and Educator Mental Health and the Modernization and Improvement of DPI. The office provides leadership and structure to DPI’s long-term strategic planning efforts and helps translate ideas into action by supporting evidence-based decision-making and implementation.
Key responsibilities include:
- Strategic Planning and Alignment: Lead the development and monitoring of DPI’s agency-wide strategic plan, ensuring alignment across divisions and programs.
- Cross-Agency Coordination: Facilitate collaboration to advance complex initiatives that require multi-team cooperation.
- Data-Informed Decision-Making: Support the use of research, data, and evaluation to guide program development, policy, and resource allocation.
- Project Management and Implementation: Provide project management leadership for high-impact agency initiatives, including setting timelines, tracking progress, and identifying challenges and opportunities.
- Innovation and Systems Improvement: Promote innovative practices, systems change, and continuous improvement to modernize how the agency delivers services and supports schools and libraries.
- Performance Monitoring: Track key performance indicators and report on progress toward agency goals, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Division of Academics
The Division of Academics provides leadership, guidance, and support to ensure all students in Wisconsin engage in rigorous, equitable, and high-quality learning experiences. This division plays a central role in advancing statewide priorities in teaching, learning, and continuous school improvement. It works collaboratively with educators, school leaders, statewide partners, and district staff to strengthen instructional practices, build educator capacity, and improve student learning and achievement across all content areas.
The division oversees the following offices and bureaus:
Office of Educational Accountability
Bureau of Teaching and Learning
Division of Access and Opportunity
The Division of Access and Opportunity is dedicated to ensuring that all students have equitable access to high-quality learning opportunities.
The division oversees the following:
Wisconsin Educational Services Program for Deaf & Hard of Hearing (WESPDHH)
Division of Government & Public Affairs
The Division of Government and Public Affairs at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) serves as the agency’s primary liaison to external partners, policymakers, and the public. This division plays a vital role in shaping and communicating education policy, advocating for public education, and building relationships that support the agency’s mission.
The division oversees the following offices:
Office of Legal Services
Division of Management Services
The Division of Management Services is responsible for overseeing the agency’s core operational and administrative functions. This division ensures DPI’s internal systems are efficient, transparent, and aligned with the agency’s strategic priorities. Through its leadership in finance, human resources, and technology, the division provides critical support that enables DPI staff and programs to serve Wisconsin’s schools, educators, and students effectively.
The division oversees the following:
Division of School & Library Operations
The Division of School and Library Operations is responsible for administering a wide range of operational programs and services that are foundational to the effective functioning of Wisconsin’s education system. From managing school funding and educator licensing to supporting nutrition programs, educational choice, and library services, the division ensures that schools, districts, and communities have access to the tools and resources they need to serve students effectively.
The division oversees the following: