Special Education / Pupil Services Leadership

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.

2025-26 Special Education & Pupil Services Leadership Academy

2025-26 SAVE THE DATES: Special Education Leadership Events

2025-26 Special Education Calendar

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s Departments of Student Services/Prevention and Wellness and Special Education teams partner with the Regional Special Education Network (RSN) and the Wisconsin Council of Administrators of Special Services (WCASS) to provide ongoing learning opportunities for directors of Special Education/Pupil Services through the Special Education/Pupil Services Leadership Academy.

The Special Education/Pupil Services Leadership Academy for 2025-26 will consist of a series of virtual sessions specifically designed for Special Education Directors and Pupil Services Leadership, but anyone is welcome to attend. The purpose of these sessions is to build awareness and understanding on technical topics related to those in the field of Special Education/Pupil Services. Most sessions will run approximately two hours in length from 10 AM- 11:30 AM/12:00 PM. Four of the offerings will be three hours in length to allow for additional learning from 9 AM- 12PM. Registration is free and is required for each individual event.

Previous Leadership Virtual Academy Recordings

Previously held Leadership Virtual Academy Recordings can be found on DPI’s YouTube channel and the playlist is linked here.

Monthly meeting agendas, which note timestamps for each of the topics for that month, can be found in the Google folder linked here.