Wisconsin
Federal layoffs in special ed leave Wisconsin advocates worried for students with disabilities
Special education advocates in Wisconsin are concerned about the potential impact of layoffs in the U.S. Department of Education offices that oversee special education programs.
Last week, the Trump administration made a reduction-in-force for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services that will leave limited staff in place for the monitoring and oversight of special education. It was part of 466 layoffs across the Education Department last week.
The White House has made a push to shrink the U.S. Department of Education to return more control to individual states.
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Heidi Siebert is an education partner for the Wisconsin Special Education Mediation System and director of special education for CESA 7, the educational support organization that serves the Green Bay region.
She told WPR’s “Wisconsin Today” that she is worried about what happens when fewer federal workers are available to help enforce the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that ensures access to special education.
“These layoffs, coupled with the other cuts that have been made, could potentially be devastating to the oversight and the ability of parents and schools to remedy when things arise,” Siebert said.
The office oversees the federal budget for special education and the development of Individual Education Programs, or IEPs, that are required under federal law to document each student’s learning needs and progress.
A spokesperson for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction told WPR they can’t speculate on the potential impacts of these changes in the Department of Education, but as of now, federal special education funding remains in place.
Siebert said Wisconsin has its own special education laws on the books to help protect access to these services, but she’s concerned about the broader impacts.
“It’s a civil rights law, and so while Wisconsin might step up, what about the other 7.5 million students in our country that have disabilities?” Siebert said. “I’m not worried about Wisconsin, but I am worried about each and every student across the country.”
One of those students was once Sydney Badeau. She’s now the chair of the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities, and she credits the support she received from special education for helping her develop a successful career in nonprofit advocacy.
She told “Wisconsin Today” that she wants the next generation of students with disabilities to have the same opportunities.
“It is going to be devastating for kids who are receiving special education services,” Badeau said. “Especially if things aren’t followed through with IEPs or accommodations that need to happen, and they don’t have anyone at the federal level to go to.”
One of the concerns for Wisconsin students is a recent cut to federal grant funding in the state for the Special Educator Induction Program that attracts and trains special education teachers.
The Department of Education cancelled the grant at the end of August because of concerns over the program’s diversity, equity and inclusion goals.
Siebert manages the program for CESA 7 and said the funding cuts will make it harder for them to retain special education teachers at a time when the state is struggling to keep them in place.
“It’s crisis-level,” she said. “Twenty years ago, a lot of (special education teachers) were coming out of traditional programs. They’re not anymore.”
With the action-packed Wisconsin high school boys basketball regular season completed and March Madness beginning, it’s time to take a look at some of the outstanding players and cast your vote for the best.
We began by looking at the most prolific individual scoring threats, talented 3-point shooters,strong rebounders, and top free-throw shooters so now it’s time to take a look at the high-caliber guards from throughout the state.
There are hundreds of high-caliber boys basketball players in Wisconsin, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive.
Voting remains open until March 9 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
(Players are listed in alphabetical order and all nominees are leaders from the 2025-26 season as compiled by Bound.com, and WIAA; the poll is below the list of athletes)
Castillo is averaging 25.4 points per game with 5.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals for Greendale (18-6 overall record).
Collien is averaging 15 points per game with 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists for Oakfield (21-3 overall record).
Edwards is averaging 14.1 points per game with 7.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists for D.C. Everest (21-3 overall record).
Gray Jr. was averaging 24.3 points per game with 6.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.1 steals prior for West Allis Central (22-2 overall record).
Hereford is averaging 36.4 points per game with 9.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 4.1 steals for Beloit Memorial (22-2 overall record).
Johnson is averaging 27.3 points per game with 8.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 3.6 steals for Milwaukee Juneau (22-1 overall record).
Jones is averaging 23.3 points per game with 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.6 steals for Germantown (15-9 overall record).
Kern is averaging 16 points per game with 6.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists for New Berlin West (21-3 overall record).
Kilgore is averaging 14.6 points per game with 7.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 3.0 steals for Kewaunee (24-0 overall record).
Kohnen is averaging 16.3 points per game with 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 steals for Slinger (20-4 overall record).
Knueppel is averaging 17.4 points per game with 7.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.9 blocks, and 1.4 steals for Wisconsin Lutheran (24-0 overall record).
Loose is averaging 18.2 points per game with 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.3 steals for Port Washington (23-1 overall).
Manchester is averaging 35.8 points per game for Mount Horeb (19-5 overall record).
Platz is averaging 19.5 points per game with 7.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists, and 1.4 steals for Brookfield East (19-5 overall record).
Prochnow is averaging 21.3 points per game with 11.1 assists, 4.8 assists, and 3.2 steals for Reedsville (21-3 overall record).
Resch is averaging 21.3 points per game with 3.3 assists and 2.0 steals for Arrowhead (18-6 overall record).
Schultz is averaging 27.4 points per game with 6.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.0 steals for Plymouth (17-7 overall record).
Schwalbach is averaging 15 points per game with 4.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds, and 1.7 steals for Kaukauna (21-3 overall).
Sweeney is averaging 15.5 points per game for Appleton North (20-4 overall record).
Vandenberg is averaging 13 points per game with 2.3 assists and 2.0 rebounds for Freedom (23-1 overall).
About Our Player Poll Voting
High School on SI voting polls are meant to be a fun, lighthearted way for fans to show support for their favorite athletes and teams. Our goal is to celebrate all of the players featured, regardless of the vote totals. Sometimes one athlete will receive a very large number of votes — even thousands — and that’s okay! The polls are open to everyone and are simply a way to build excitement and community around high school sports. Unless we specifically announce otherwise, there are no prizes or official awards for winning. The real purpose is to highlight the great performances of every athlete included in the poll.
— Jeff Hagenau | jeffreyhagenau@gmail.com
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