AI in School Psychology: Insights from an Ohio Survey
Prefer to listen on the go? An audio version of this blog is available so you can catch up on the latest insights from the NASP Conference wherever you are.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept—it's here, and school psychologists are beginning to explore its potential. From report writing to intervention planning, AI is already playing a role in the field. But how are school psychologists in Ohio actually using AI? What are their concerns? And what does this mean for the future of our profession?
To answer these questions, I recently conducted a survey of school psychologists in Ohio. A total of 140 participants completed the study, which was conducted between December 13, 2024, and January 16, 2025. The results provide a fascinating snapshot of how AI is shaping school psychology today.
How Many School Psychologists Use AI?
AI adoption among school psychologists is growing, but it remains inconsistent. The survey found that 80% of respondents had used AI in the past six months, either for personal or professional purposes. Specifically, 69% reported using AI for work-related tasks.
Interestingly, AI use frequency varied widely:
29.3% used AI weekly
9.3% used AI daily
30.7% reported never using AI for work
These numbers suggest that while some school psychologists are incorporating AI into their workflow, many are still hesitant.
How Are School Psychologists Using AI?
Among those who use AI for work, the most common applications included:
Generating recommendations (56.3%)
Summarizing information (53.6%)
Assisting with report writing (46.4%)
Creating accessible explanations of complex topics (39.3%)
Less common uses included translating materials (7.1%), writing session notes (6.3%), and assisting with billing (1.8%).
AI in Report Writing
A deeper dive into AI-assisted report writing revealed that 71.2% of respondents who use AI for reports do so to rewrite sections for better clarity. Many also use AI to write recommendations (71.2%) and summarize sections (65.4%). However, AI is rarely used for more sensitive tasks, such as diagnosing based on client data (3.8%).
Even when AI is used, human oversight remains essential. Nearly all respondents (98.1%) edited AI-generated content before including it in reports.
Do School Psychologists Trust AI?
While most respondents (75%) agreed that AI can be helpful in school psychology, trust remains a significant barrier:
Only 36% of respondents trust AI-generated content
35% believe AI is better than school psychologists at some tasks
Only 25% think AI selects better recommendations than humans
Just 17.1% believe AI is better at interpreting test results
These findings indicate that while AI has potential, many professionals remain skeptical of its reliability and accuracy.
Ethical Concerns and AI Policies
Ethical concerns are a major factor influencing AI adoption:
66.5% worry about over-reliance on AI
69.3% are concerned about privacy and confidentiality risks
41.5% fear AI could make some or all of their job obsolete
41.5% believe AI will perpetuate biases
Despite these concerns, most workplaces lack clear AI policies. Only 5.7% of respondents reported having a formal AI use policy, while 52.1% stated their employer had no policy, and 42.1% were unsure.
Disclosure and Informed Consent
When it comes to transparency, school psychologists are divided:
44% believe AI use should be disclosed
23.6% say disclosure is unnecessary
32.1% believe disclosure should depend on the context
Additionally, 85.9% of respondents who use AI at work do not obtain informed consent from stakeholders before using AI.
The Role of Training
As AI becomes more prevalent, training will be crucial. However, 36.4% of respondents had no training in AI prompt development, and 11.4% had no training in AI ethics. Among those who had received training, the most common sources included:
Colleagues and co-workers (55.7%)
Webinars and online training (44.3%)
In-person training (45.0%)
These findings highlight a growing need for structured AI training tailored to the ethical and practical concerns of school psychologists.
What’s Next for AI in School Psychology?
The survey results suggest that AI is becoming a valuable tool for school psychologists, but its adoption is still in its early stages. Trust, ethical considerations, and workplace policies will play a crucial role in shaping AI’s future in the profession.
To move forward responsibly, school psychologists need:
Clear guidelines and policies from professional organizations and employers.
Training programs that address both AI literacy and ethical use.
Ongoing discussions about AI’s role in education and mental health.
AI won’t replace school psychologists, but it has the potential to enhance efficiency, improve accessibility, and support better decision-making—if used wisely.