September 24th EditionAWSA UpdateCelebrate National Principals Month this OctoberSuccessful schools depend on strong leadership. The AWSA staff joins Governor Tony Evers in thanking you for your dedicated service to your students and community. Join Us Next Week at the Elementary Principals’ ConventionConnect with over 200 of your peers from throughout the state at the Elementary Principals’ Convention in La Crosse October 1-3. The Convention will feature sessions by Mary Hemphill, Joe Sanfelippo, WI school exemplars, and AWSA thought leaders. Register today! Seclusion and Restraint Reports Due by October 1It’s back-to-school time when summer school and fall planning give way to a fresh new school year. Each year brings with it the opportunity and obligation to post annual notices and prepare reports. Each school in the district must complete the Seclusion and Restraint Report by October 1 of each year. This report is one of those requirements that can easily get lost in the excitement that the fall brings. Read more. Registration & Save the Date for Upcoming AWSA Conferences
Update on School-Based Services (SBS) Medicaid Billing in WisconsinBe on the lookout—important updates are coming soon regarding changes to the Free Care Rule that will affect School-Based Services (SBS) Medicaid billing in Wisconsin. Read more here. An Update from School Administrators AllianceAs students return to classrooms this fall, legislators have also returned to the Capitol to set their policy priorities for the remainder of the two-year session, which will conclude early next year. Education is a key focus. Read more here. WIAA High School Principal Survey - Your Voice MattersThe WIAA Executive Staff and Board of Control are engaging in a strategic goals process. They have created a survey to gather valuable feedback that will help identify strengths, address challenges, and set priorities as they develop strategic goals for the future of education-based athletics. High school principals are invited to participate. Check your inbox and spam filter for an email with the subject line: WIAA Strategic Goals Survey. You may also complete the survey using the following direct link: https://dgsurveys.com/r/3QJBwL. Nominate an Outstanding School Leader!Nominations are now open to recognize Wisconsin’s top school leaders. Nominations are accepted from teachers, parents, principals, and community members. Principal Leadership Awards – Nomination Deadline: Oct. 3, 2025 and Associate Principal of the Year Awards – Nomination Deadline: Oct. 10, 2025. If you have questions please contact the AWSA office. Wisconsin Purple Star School ProgramThe Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is launching the inaugural Purple Star School Program during the 2025 - 2026 school year. DPI invites all schools to participate in the Purple Star School designation, which recognizes schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting military-connected students. The primary focus of this designation is to help schools meet the unique needs of military-connected children, who often face educational, social, and emotional challenges when transitioning between schools with different curricula, expectations, and graduation requirements. Please see the Purple Star School Program Announcement flyer and share out with any interested parties. For more information on the Purple Star School Program, please visit DPI’s Military Children and Families webpage. September 10th EditionAWSA UpdateRegistration is Open for SLATE 25: Harness the Power of Ed TechRegister today for SLATE 25 (December 8-10, 2025 Kalahari Resort) featuring over seventy pre-conference and concurrent sessions on using technology to engage learners like never before. Learn more here. Keep It Simple: How New Glarus Drives Excellence Through Focused Systems and People-First PlanningIn the New Glarus School District, simplicity is more than a mindset—it’s a strategy for success. At the 2025 Creating a Culture of Excellence For All Conference, our team shared how a clear focus on systems, strategic planning, and staff support has led to exceptional student and staff outcomes. While simplicity doesn’t mean easy, our experience shows it’s a powerful path to sustained excellence. Read more here. Monitoring The Future: Tracking Teen Risk BehaviorsMonitoring the Future is the census of teen risk behavior in the United States. It is a long-standing, nationally representative, and well-respected study conducted by the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health. The study is endorsed by NASSP, NAESP, National PTA, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the National Association of School Nurses, and several other national organizations. Read more here. Nominate an Outstanding Associate Principal Today
Nominations for the State Associate Principal of the Year Award are now open. Nominations can be made by administrators, teachers, or other community members. Help AWSA recognize outstanding leadership by nominating an exemplary middle school or high school associate principal today! Nominations are due by Friday, October 10, 2025 and then applications must be submitted by Friday, October 17, 2025. Learn more here. Principal Leadership Award Nominations Are Now Open
Nominations of Wisconsin PK-12 principals can now be submitted online at KohlEducation.org for the 2026 Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Principal Leadership awards. The deadline for submission is Friday, October 3, 2025 at 5 p.m. central time. Awards are $6,000, with an additional $6,000 grant going to the school of each selected principal. Click here to learn more. Save the Date for Upcoming AWSA Conferences
Elementary Principals’ Convention- Register Today!Join your peers from throughout the state at the Elementary Principals’ Convention in LaCrosse October 1-3. The Convention will feature sessions by Mary Hemphill, Joe Sanfelippo, WI school exemplars, and AWSA thought leaders. Register today! |