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Superintendent says two federal special‑education grants were canceled; DPI plans to appeal
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Summary
Superintendent Dr. Robinson told the board two federal grants that supported recruitment and services for special‑education teachers and deaf‑blind students were canceled; the Department of Public Instruction will appeal the federal decision, district staff said.
The West Allis‑West Milwaukee superintendent told the school board on Sept. 22 that two federal grants that supported special‑education recruitment and services had been canceled and that the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction plans to appeal the federal decision.
Dr. Robinson said the Wisconsin Deaf Blind Technical Assistance Project (WDBTAP), which served about 170 students with vision or hearing loss and provided assistive technology, family support and professional training, was ended by the federal government. He also said the State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG) — part of a five‑year cycle that funded programs such as a Special Educator Induction Program supporting roughly 280 new special educators — was canceled. The district noted the cancellations come amid staffing shortages for special‑education roles at state and national levels.
Dr. Robinson told the board that DPI plans to appeal the decision to end both grant programs and that the loss of funding will affect recruitment and retention efforts for special‑education teachers. No formal action by the board was taken; the remarks were reported in the superintendent’s verbal update.
Ending: Administration said it will monitor DPI’s appeal and report back to the board on potential local impacts and any mitigation steps the district may take.
