Key Points
Streamlining Special Education Processes with Generative AI Tools
Technology has long been viewed as having the promise to make schools more effective and educators more efficient. In the late 1990s, the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) provided recognition to school districts that were using technology in effective and efficient ways. Artificial intelligence (AI) has raised the promise of that decades-old goal to new heights.
The Challenge of Special Education
The number of students we are focusing on is significant. More than 15 percent of students nationwide and more than one in five students in some areas are diagnosed as needing special and individualized educational programming. Districts have reported a shortage of special education teachers since the late 1990s. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 37 states identified special education as a teacher shortage area during the 2023-2024 school year.
Burnout and Job Dissatisfaction
Because special education teachers consistently identify high levels of paperwork as a regular source of burnout and job dissatisfaction, educational leaders need to look to generative AI tools to streamline special education processes.
Simple Ways to Use Generative AI Tools
There are several simple ways to use generative AI tools to streamline special education paperwork. One simple tool has already been specifically designed to assist in the development of student individual education plans (IEPs). MagicSchool.ai includes an IEP generator that will draft an initial IEP given the child’s grade level, disabilities and strengths, needs, and behaviors.
Benefits of AI in Special Education
While AI resources for IEP development have been revolutionary for helping with paperwork overload, the benefits of AI related to special education workload do not stop there. At Goal Genius, not only does AI help to develop IEP goals, but it can also offer tailored accommodation recommendations, sample lesson plans, create quarterly objectives, and generate progress reports for data tracking.
Creating Reading Level-Appropriate Text
Creating reading level-appropriate text can be another tedious task for special education teachers. There are a number of text leveling tools that will allow a teacher to input text and have AI return text at a requested level. This can be used for students with either higher- or lower-level reading needs.
Planning for Meetings
Planning for and facilitating multiple meetings per year can be extremely time consuming for special education teachers, but AI has become a very useful resource for this planning. Many bots can draft personalized IEP meeting agendas, staff meeting agendas, or team meetings.
Evaluation Process
During the evaluation process, a multidisciplinary team will come together to provide information as part of an evaluation to determine eligibility for services. Traditionally, the special education teacher oversees compiling and helping organize all these specific reports. AI can help to both organize and explain more complicated issues/reports that might be provided to the school.
Conclusion
While there still may be some questions about AI and ways that it can be integrated into special education, there is overwhelming evidence of resources and websites that are now being commonly utilized by teams to help reduce workload and pressure on special education staff. AI provides the opportunity for special education teachers working in a rural district or in a solitary role at their building to have collaboration and support on demand for questions that might arise.
FAQs
Q: What are the benefits of using AI in special education?
A: AI can help streamline special education processes, reduce paperwork, and provide tailored support for students with individualized needs.
Q: How can AI be used to develop IEP goals?
A: AI can be used to generate initial IEP drafts, provide tailored accommodation recommendations, and create quarterly objectives.
Q: Can AI help with creating reading level-appropriate text?
A: Yes, AI can be used to level text to a requested level, making it easier for students with higher or lower reading needs.
Q: How can AI be used to plan for meetings?
A: AI can be used to draft personalized meeting agendas, staff meeting agendas, or team meetings, reducing the time and effort required for planning.
Q: Can AI help with the evaluation process?
A: Yes, AI can help organize and explain complicated issues/reports provided to the school during the evaluation process.
