By Shannon Sankstone
Artificial intelligence, or AI, is integrating into every part of our lives, including special education. At the same time, many of us have had visions of robots taking over the world, or less dramatically, fears that AI is writing a child’s individualized educational program (IEP). This month, I’ll take a peek at AI from an advocate’s perspective.
For everyone, by everyone
First and foremost, districts, schools and educators need leadership to guide them. The U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) have provided a framework for AI in K-12 education. At the national and state level, policy makers stress that AI should be centered on humans.
Superintendent Chris Reykdal stated that AI “places our educators and students at the center of this digital revolution with a priority for human inquiry that uses AI for production, but never as the final thought, product, or paper.”
In other words, first a human has an idea, AI produces, then humans refine and revise. In schools, AI should be a “powerful tool,” not a one-stop shop.
For districts: a wake-up call
School boards have been slow to update their policies. Out of eight districts in Thurston County, only one has an AI policy available: North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS). The district goal, according to the website, is to further students’ creativity using AI productivity tools. NTPS also has an AI Student Code of Conduct, and like OSPI, centers the student and teacher.
In our sphere
While NTPS makes a commitment to inclusivity, the district doesn’t address how inclusivity will be supported by AI. OSPI’s guidance encourages schools “to personalize and increase … access to learning” for students receiving special education services. This, too, needs to be addressed in educator and administrator professional development. Fortunately, our friends in the Educational Service Districts (ESDs) have just the thing: the 2025 Innovation in Education AI Summit.
Advocacy strategies
You can influence how AI improves inclusivity. I have seen parents requesting AI to make the curriculum more accessible. Some strategies include:
- Using generative AI to simplify text. You can ask the AI to, “regenerate this text to a ____ grade reading level,” or, if you know your child’s Lexile or Rasch Unit levels (RIT), you can ask AI to adjust the text to that.
- You can input your child’s assessment scores (without stating any identifying information) and brainstorm a list of 10 accommodations or modifications.
- AI can take notes for your student, summarize them, and then read the notes back to them. The AI can then generate questions from the notes and recommend other resources, such as videos and articles.
When I think of advocating, I focus on the student, with the understanding that the student is part of a system. The system needs to change. Parents, I encourage you to address your school boards and request AI policies that are equitable and flexible. The time is now.
The online oracle says …
It seems a bit surreal, but dear readers, you can use AI to learn what AI can do. While this may be a harbinger of the singularity, it also means we can benefit from AI’s ability to simplify massive amounts of information. Want a rough idea of how AI can help your child? Try this multistep prompt:
Step 1:
Act as an expert special education teacher with 15 years teaching experience and a master’s degree in education, who loves children with disabilities. I am a parent of a (age), (grade) student. My child has (diagnosis) and receives special education services for (goal areas, i.e. math, reading, adaptive behavior, social skills, fine motor skills, etc).
My child (is/is not) making adequate progress toward mastering their goals. They need more support in (area or areas). Your task is to list (five/10/15) ideas of how I, as a parent, and the school can use AI to support my child. Do not begin your task. Instead, ask me clarifying questions and tell me your assumptions. I will answer your questions and respond to your assumptions.
Step 2:
AI will usually list questions and assumptions in a numbered list. Provide answers in the order of the questions and assumptions. At the end, type:
Do you have any other questions or assumptions?
Step 3:
Repeat Step 2 until AI says they are ready. When AI gives you the all ready response, tell AI:
Generate the list.
Next week:
It’s time for teacher talk!
This column is written by Shannon Sankstone, she is an Olympia-based special education advocate and the owner of Advocacy Unlocked. She may be reached at [email protected].
