Navigating the AI Frontier: Essential Guidance from the NASP AI Task Force

I am please to share insights from the guidance recently released by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) AI Task Force, which I was honored to serve on. This guidance is essential for practitioners, students, and trainers alike as we integrate these powerful new tools into our profession.

Key Considerations for Ethical and Effective AI Use

1. General Considerations: Grounding AI in Ethical Practice

AI in school psychology must be grounded in ethical and evidence-based practices.

• Transparency: Obtain informed consent and communicate clearly about when and how AI is used.

• Data Security: Protect student information with HIPAA/FERPA compliance and formal vendor agreements.

2. Considerations for Practitioners: Augmenting Our Work

AI should augment, not replace professional expertise.

• Streamline tasks like drafting emails, summarizing notes, or creating intervention plan drafts.

• Maintain clinical judgment and oversight to prevent automation bias or skill loss.

• Evaluate AI products critically—review vendor claims, demand transparency, and ensure FERPA compliance.

Early career professionals must be especially cautious. Don’t let AI replace formative experiences like mentorship and case consultation.

3. Understanding the Technology

AI is machine intelligence capable of language, visual, and emotional recognition.

Large Language Models (LLMs):

• Trained on massive datasets, which may include bias and inaccuracies.

• Outputs can perpetuate inequities (e.g., higher misidentification rates for women and people of color).

Action Step: Always monitor AI outputs for fairness and accuracy.

4. Human-Centered Practice

Efficiencies gained with AI should free us to focus on what matters most:

• Building relationships with students and families.

• Providing direct mental and behavioral health services.

• Engaging in systems-level practices and advocacy.

AI should never replace professional judgment, empathy, or human connection.

5. Ethical Considerations and Pitfalls

Guided by the NASP Principles for Professional Ethics, key risks include:

• Data Vulnerability: Breaches or unauthorized disclosures.

• Bias & Inaccuracy: Reinforcement of inequities or false outputs.

• Loss of Skill: Deskilling from overreliance on AI.

Safeguards:

• Obtain informed consent with opt-out options.

• Disclose AI use in reports, evaluations, and publications.

6. Considerations for Trainers of School Psychologists

Graduate educators should:

• Build AI literacy by exploring common tools.

• Model responsible use to foster critical thinking.

• Integrate AI in assignments (e.g., mock reports, ethical case discussions).

7. Considerations for Graduate Students

Students must use AI responsibly and critically.

• Adhere to policy on academic integrity and privacy.

• Start small with low-risk tasks (summaries, outlines, nonsensitive drafts).

• Stay skeptical of AI’s biases and limitations.

• Use for efficiency, but never replace empathy, judgment, or human connection.

Final Thoughts

Generative AI is growing rapidly. Our profession must continue to evaluate tools while holding firm to ethical standards.

By prioritizing critical thinking, transparency, and data security, school psychologists can responsibly integrate AI in ways that enhance—not replace—the services we provide to students and families.