Will AI replace Special Education Teachers, Middle School?

Some of your tasks will be automated. People who use AI will have the edge.

Task exposure to today's AI

38/100

Moderate exposure

This is the occupation's typical task mix. Your own score can be up to 30 points higher or lower depending on how you work: routine share, people contact, judgment and how much you already use AI.

Get your personal score

Will AI replace Special Education Teachers, Middle School?

Not entirely. Today's AI tools can take on about 38% of the typical work in this occupation, mostly: develop or write individualized education programs (ieps) for students. The parts that stay human include: Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.; Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.; Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory..

People who learn to use AI for the automatable parts keep the edge. The 3-phase plan below shows where to start.

Which tasks AI can take on

The largest tasks in this occupation, their share of the working week, and how much of each today's AI tools can do.

TaskAutomatable

Develop or write Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students. 68%

Maintain accurate and complete student records, and prepare reports on children and activities, as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations. 60%

Modify the general education curriculum for students with disabilities, based upon a variety of instructional techniques and instructional technology. 57%

Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.AI already used 53%

Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.AI already used 47%

Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.AI already used 40%

+ 34 more tasks (60% of the week) in the full test.

Your human edge

Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.
Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory.

AI tools to try

ChatGPT / Claude for lesson materialsAI quiz and feedback toolsPresentation and image generators

Related roles

A 3-phase AI learning plan

Phase 1

Materials and preparation

Lesson plans, tasks and differentiated materials with AI.
Quizzes and answer keys.
Check facts and age-appropriateness yourself.

Project

Use AI to build one two-week math or reading unit at three reading levels plus a quiz with answer key, fact-check every item yourself, and log hours saved versus your usual prep.

Phase 2

Feedback and assessment

Rubrics and feedback drafts with AI.
Spotting common mistakes across student work.
Rules for student AI use and academic honesty.

Project

Draft an AI rubric and feedback comments for one set of 20 student assignments, tag the 5 most common errors to target in reteaching, and write a one-page class AI-use and honesty rule sheet.

Phase 3

Teaching with AI

Teach students to use AI critically.
Assignments that work with AI, not against it.
Share materials and practice with colleagues.

Project

Run a 3-lesson mini-unit teaching students to fact-check AI output on a social studies topic, redesign one assignment to be AI-resistant, and present the materials at a staff meeting.

Take the free 11-question test