Schools warn of risks as AI tools expand in special education planning

Schools have warned that the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in special-education planning is creating new risks even as teachers increasingly rely on the technology to save time.

A new report from the nonprofit Center for Democracy & Technology shows that 57% of special-education teachers used AI to help draft IEPs or 504 plans this school year, an 18% jump from last year, raising concerns about how deeply AI is now embedded in schools’ daily workflows.

Teachers noted that AI helps identify trends in student progress, summarise documents and, in some cases, write entire plans.

But experts caution that this rapid adoption may put schools at odds with federal law. 

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires that each IEP be unique and individualised, something AI tools cannot guarantee.

Privacy risks are also mounting, especially when teachers use freely available platforms like ChatGPT to handle sensitive student data.

Legal scholars have warned that overreliance on AI could lead to inaccuracies or biased recommendations, jeopardising the individual needs of students.

While schools acknowledge the benefits, they emphasise that educators still require proper training to use AI responsibly.