The Regional Special Education Network (CESA 5)

The Regional Special Education Network (RSN) was established in 1984 and acts as a liaison providing linked communication between the Department of Public Instruction and local school districts within the CESA 5 service area. The purpose of the RSN is to support districts in advancing the academic achievement and social and emotional competencies of students with disabilities by:

• Providing coordinated technical assistance that promotes continuous systems improvement;

• Fostering collaboration; and

• Developing educational leadership capacity.

CESA 5 Specific activities include:

• Regional Special Education Network Meetings for district-level Directors of Special Education 

• Participation in the Regional Special Education Network Grant activities that support DPI Initiatives

• Resource and technical assistance, including the 20 Indicators and the Reading Drives Achievement: Procedural Compliance Self-Assessment process

• Ongoing communication and information sharing between the Department of Public Instruction, CESA 5, and local districts

• Consultation in the area of special education administration

• Support and consultation for new Directors of Special Education/Pupil Services

• Collaborate with Every Student Succeeds Act coordinator to improve student outcomes 

• Support effective implementation of a systemic continuous improvement process based in the Implementation Science model.

The RSN engage in the following essential functions in order to fulfill the purpose of the network:

• Support systems improvement and systems change by developing school districts capacity to use data for analysis and action planning so that practices are implemented effectively in order to advance educational achievements for students with disabilities within a multi-level system of support.
• Develop district leadership capacity by providing support and training around technical and adaptive change so that schools know the conditions under which effective teaching and learning happen.
• Develop collaborative relationships so that school district efforts to promote academic, career, and community-based opportunities for students with disabilities are coordinated and aligned.
• Engage in ongoing professional learning to develop and apply knowledge of grant initiatives and skills that impact adult practices to advance achievement with disabilities.

State Performance Plan (SPP) Indicators
The RSN primarily supports the Wisconsin State Performance Plan Indicator 3C. The grant project also supports the following Wisconsin State Performance Plan Indicators: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 11, 14, 15, and 17.

State Performance Plan details can be found here.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, creed, age, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, marital status or parental status, sexual orientation, or ability and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups.