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Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education

teaching basic skills, such as color, shape, assimilating arriving children to the school environment by greeting them and preparing materials and classrooms for class activities. If that's your week, this page is about your job.

The honest answer

AI changes the edges of this job, not the middle: teaching basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene and social skills is work software can't reach.

Your move: what you can actually do about this ↓

What shifts is preparing reports on students and activities as required by administration. This page scores what today's tools actually do, not headlines.

Your week, as this page understands it

Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth. The job title says “preschool teachers” or “except special education”: officially one job, two names. The real job is the part underneath: teaching basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene and social skills. That is the thing someone has to be right about.

The exposed part of this job is specific, and we won’t pretend it is coming back. But preschool teachers, except special education is not one task. It is 34 scored ones, and they are nowhere near equally exposed. The most durable of them, on this evidence, is teaching basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene and social skills, and the ledger below shows exactly why.

Where the work sits, by task weight

shifting to AI
5%
changing shape
0%
staying human
95%

These bars are tasks changing hands, not people being counted out. The ledger below shows which.

Whole-job exposure score 16 out of 100 (11–23 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, across 34 scored tasks. The number is the support for the sentence above it, not a headline about anyone’s future.

How we know this

What is measured: Every published task statement for preschool teachers, except special education is rated on five dimensions: can a model produce the output, does the work need a body in a room, does it need a legally accountable person, does it depend on a person being trusted in the moment, and how much data exists. A published formula turns those five ratings into the score; the model never writes the number.

How the bar is built: Each task’s share of the bar is its published importance weight, so a task you do all day counts for more than one you do twice a year.

Release: 2026-q4.1, scores computed 2026-08-05. Read the full method.

Your job, task by task

These are the official task statements for this occupation, in plain English, sorted by what the evidence says is happening to each one. The official wording sits under every line so you can check the rewrite against it.

Shifting to AI

2 tasks

Tasks today’s tools can already do most of. This is the part we will not soften: where these rows are the bulk of your week, the week changes.

  • Preparing reports on students and activities as required by administration

    This is reading one thing and writing another: reports in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 81 out of 100 (77–85 allowing for uncertainty): very high exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.

    The rating behind it: Reports on students and activities are structured documents that can largely be produced from existing school records.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 4/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Maintaining accurate and completing student records

    This is reading one thing and writing another: accurate in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 81 out of 100 (77–85 allowing for uncertainty): very high exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.

    The rating behind it: Keeping required student records accurate and complete is structured administrative work school systems already handle.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 4/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

Changing shape

0 tasks

Tasks where the machine takes the producing and a person keeps the checking, the deciding, or the answering-for-it. For most jobs this is the biggest group, and it is where "transformation, not termination" is literally visible.

Nothing in this job’s scored task list landed in this group. That is the measurement, not an editorial choice, and it is worth knowing either way.

Staying human

32 tasks

Tasks that stay with a person, because they happen in the physical world, because the rules need someone accountable, or because the value is that a specific person does them.

  • Teaching basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene and social skills

    This work happens in the physical world: basic skills, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 5 · Core
    Source: “Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 3 out of 100 (0–10 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence, and it moved between repeat runs, so the range is widened.

    Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Teaching colors, letters and hygiene to young children happens hands-on in the room.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Establishing and enforcing rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order

    This work happens in the physical world: rules, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 5 · Core
    Source: “Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 8 out of 100 (4–12 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Writing the rules is easy for AI, but keeping a room of small children to them takes an adult they know.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Adapting teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests

    The value here is that a specific person handles methods and stands behind it. That is earned, not computed.

    importance 5 · Core
    Source: “Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 34 out of 100 (27–41 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Reworking materials for different reading levels and interests is a writing job software does quickly and well.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Organizing and leading activities designed to promote physical

    This work happens in the physical world: activities, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Organize and lead activities designed to promote physical, mental, and social development, such as games, arts and crafts, music, storytelling, and field trips.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 8 out of 100 (4–12 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: AI can plan games and craft ideas, but running them with a group of small children means being there in person.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Preparing materials and classrooms for class activities

    This work happens in the physical world: materials, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 14 out of 100 (4–24 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence, and it moved between repeat runs, so the range is widened.

    Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.

    The rating behind it: AI can create and print activity sheets, but setting up the room and laying out equipment is physical preparation.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Assimilating arriving children to the school environment by greeting them

    This work happens in the physical world: children, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Assimilate arriving children to the school environment by greeting them, helping them remove outerwear, and selecting activities of interest to them.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–7 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence, and it moved between repeat runs, so the range is widened.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Welcoming children at the door and helping them out of coats is hands-on work at the start of the day.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

  • Reading books to entire classes or to small groups

    This work happens in the physical world: books, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Read books to entire classes or to small groups.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 6 out of 100 (0–16 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence, and it moved between repeat runs, so the range is widened.

    Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Story time works because a familiar adult reads to the children in the room and responds to them as they listen.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Identifying children showing signs of emotional

    This work happens in the physical world: children showing signs of emotional, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Identify children showing signs of emotional, developmental, or health-related problems and discuss them with supervisors, parents or guardians, and child development specialists.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 7 out of 100 (3–11 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Spotting early signs of a problem in a small child comes from daily contact with them.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

Show the other 24 tasks

  • Selecting, storing, ordering, issuing and inventory classroom equipment, materials and supplies

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: inventory classroom equipment, materials and supplies, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Select, store, order, issue, and inventory classroom equipment, materials, and supplies.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 38 out of 100 (31–45 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.

    The rating behind it: Ordering and tracking classroom supplies is desk work, though storing and issuing them is done by hand.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Collaborating with other teachers and administrators in the development

    staying human

    The value here is that a specific person handles other teachers and stands behind it. That is earned, not computed.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Collaborate with other teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of preschool programs.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 30 out of 100 (23–37 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Curriculum drafts and reviews can be prepared automatically, but agreeing changes is a joint discussion among staff.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Conferring with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting learning

    staying human

    The value here is that a specific person handles other staff members and stands behind it. That is earned, not computed.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting learning, following approved curricula.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 26 out of 100 (19–33 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Draft schedules and lesson sequences come easily to software, though the agreement happens between colleagues.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Supervising, evaluating and planning assignments for teacher assistants and volunteers

    staying human

    The value here is that a specific person handles assignments and stands behind it. That is earned, not computed.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Supervise, evaluate, and plan assignments for teacher assistants and volunteers.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 26 out of 100 (19–33 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Rotas and written feedback can be drafted, but supervising assistants rests on working relationships.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Establishing clear objectives for all lessons

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: clear objectives, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to children.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 23 out of 100 (16–30 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Writing clear lesson goals is straightforward for AI, though explaining them to very young children happens face to face.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Meeting with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and needs

    staying human

    The value here is that a specific person handles parents and stands behind it. That is earned, not computed.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and needs, determine their priorities for their children, and suggest ways that they can promote learning and development.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 21 out of 100 (14–28 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Progress notes and suggestions can be drafted automatically, but parents want the teacher who knows their child to talk them through.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Planning and conducting activities for a balanced program of instruction

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: activities, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 18 out of 100 (8–28 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence, and it moved between repeat runs, so the range is widened.

    Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: AI can plan a balanced mix of activities, but running them with a class happens in the room.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Preparing and implementing remedial programs for students requiring extra help

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: remedial programs, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 18 out of 100 (11–25 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Catch-up plans draft easily, but the extra help itself is given one to one.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Attending professional meetings, educational conferences and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: professional meetings, educational conferences and teacher training workshops, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 17 out of 100 (7–27 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence, and it moved between repeat runs, so the range is widened.

    Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.

    The rating behind it: Attending training is about the teacher own learning; software can summarise sessions but cannot take part for them.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Attending staff meetings and serving on committees

    staying human

    The value here is that a specific person handles staff meetings and stands behind it. That is earned, not computed.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Attend staff meetings and serve on committees as required.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 17 out of 100 (10–24 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Meeting notes can be summarised automatically, but taking part and speaking for your class is something the teacher does.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Meeting with other professionals to discuss individual students' needs and progress

    staying human

    The value here is that a specific person handles other professionals and stands behind it. That is earned, not computed.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Meet with other professionals to discuss individual students' needs and progress.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 15 out of 100 (8–22 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Much of the value is in colleagues talking things through, drawing on what each has seen of the student.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Arranging indoor and outdoor space to facilitate creative play

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: indoor, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Arrange indoor and outdoor space to facilitate creative play, motor-skill activities, and safety.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 13 out of 100 (6–20 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.

    The rating behind it: Layout ideas can be suggested, but actually moving furniture and equipment to make a safe play space is physical work.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Providing a variety of materials and resources for children

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: a variety of materials, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 5 · Core
    Source: “Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 9 out of 100 (2–16 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.

    The rating behind it: Laying out materials for children to explore and handle is physical classroom work.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Organizing and labelling materials and displaying students' work in a manner appropriate for their ages and perceptual skills

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: materials, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Organize and label materials and display students' work in a manner appropriate for their ages and perceptual skills.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 8 out of 100 (1–15 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.

    The rating behind it: Putting up children's work and labelling shelves around the room is physical classroom work done by hand.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Planning and supervising class projects

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: class projects, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guests, or other experiential activities and guide students in learning from those activities.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 8 out of 100 (1–15 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence, and it moved between repeat runs, so the range is widened.

    Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Trips and visits need a teacher physically supervising young children.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Teaching proper eating habits and personal hygiene

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: proper eating habits, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Teach proper eating habits and personal hygiene.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 6 out of 100 (2–10 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Young children learn handwashing and table manners by being shown and helped in the moment by an adult beside them.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Enforcing all administration policies and rules governing students

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: all administration policies, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Enforce all administration policies and rules governing students.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 5 out of 100 (0–12 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence, and it moved between repeat runs, so the range is widened.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Enforcing school rules means an adult is physically present with students when things go wrong.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Administering tests to help determine children's developmental levels

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: tests, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Administer tests to help determine children's developmental levels, needs, and potential.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 5 out of 100 (0–12 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Developmental checks with a small child are done in person, sitting with them and watching how they respond.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Observing and evaluating children's performance

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: children's performance, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Observe and evaluate children's performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 4 out of 100 (0–11 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence, and it moved between repeat runs, so the range is widened.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Noticing how a child is developing comes from watching them closely every day.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Demonstrating activities to children

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: activities, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Demonstrate activities to children.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 4 out of 100 (0–11 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence, and it moved between repeat runs, so the range is widened.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Showing children how to do something means doing it in front of them.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Attending to children's basic needs by feeding them

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: children's basic needs, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 5 · Core
    Source: “Attend to children's basic needs by feeding them, dressing them, and changing their diapers.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Feeding, dressing and changing young children is entirely hands-on care that has to be given by a person.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

  • Serving meals and snacks in accordance with nutritional guidelines

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: meals, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 5 · Core
    Source: “Serve meals and snacks in accordance with nutritional guidelines.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.

    The rating behind it: Handing out meals and snacks to children is physical work done in the room, whatever the nutrition guidelines say.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Providing students with disabilities with assistive devices

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: students, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Supplemental
    Source: “Provide students with disabilities with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–7 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence, and it moved between repeat runs, so the range is widened.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Helping a student physically get around school or use a device requires being right there with them.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

  • Performing administrative duties, such as hall and cafeteria monitoring and bus loading and unloading

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: administrative duties, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Supplemental
    Source: “Perform administrative duties, such as hall and cafeteria monitoring and bus loading and unloading.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.

    The rating behind it: Watching halls and loading children onto buses means being physically present where the children are.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

What this job pays, and how many people do it

Median pay
$38,140a year, the middle of the range, so half earn more and half earn less.bls-oews, 2025 · May 2025 estimates (national_M2025_dl.xlsx)
How we know this

Source: bls-oews

Reference period: May 2025 estimates (national_M2025_dl.xlsx)

Rounding: Shown as published.

People doing this job
478,780in the US, 2025.bls-oews · May 2025 estimates (national_M2025_dl.xlsx)

What is deliberately not here: a forecast of how many of these jobs exist in ten years. Where an official projection exists for a market we publish it with its vintage; where it does not, we leave the space empty rather than borrow the other country’s number.

Why this is shifting

The reason is boringly specific. Most of what is shifting here is reading one thing and writing another: reports in, a record out. The rows above are exactly that shape: preparing reports on students and activities as required by administration and maintaining accurate and completing student records. What it cannot do is be answerable: basic skills need a named person the rules will accept, and software cannot be that person. Which is why this page talks about your tasks changing, not your job ending.

Your move

Over a pint: what I’d tell you if you were my friend

Start with what does not change: teaching basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene and social skills is the middle of this job, and the evidence on this page says it stays with a person.

So, given all that: 5% of this job's task weight sits in rows the software is already learning, 0% in rows that change shape rather than disappear, and 95% in rows it is nowhere near. That is the position, measured across 34 scored tasks. It is not a forecast about you.

So the thing worth your attention is not the job going away. It is the layer around it. Preparing reports on students and activities as required by administration is the part turning into software, and being the person who understands that layer is worth money.

This week: one thing

Ask the one question. Find whoever is bringing new software into your workplace (the manager, the office, whoever runs the system) and ask them what it is meant to do to reports, and what it is not meant to touch. Ten minutes, this week, before anyone decides it for you.

What you end up holding
a straight answer about what is actually being rolled out, and when
How long it takes
ten minutes

If there’s nobody obvious to ask, or you’d rather not ask your manager: Put the same question to your union rep, your shift lead or the person who has been there longest, in person, over a break. Same ten minutes, same answer, and you will usually get a straighter one. Write down what they say. The note is the artifact, and it tells you whether basic skills are in scope or not. Nothing to log into, no license needed.

Over the next 90 days

Get inside the tool rollout rather than waiting for it. Over the next ninety days, ask to be in the group that tests, checks or signs off whatever new system arrives near teaching basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene and social skills. It is usually an unglamorous seat that nobody fights for, and it is the one that decides how the software is used on your job rather than to it.

Over the next 12 months

On this evidence I would not retrain out of this job, and I will say that plainly rather than hedge it. The task list here is dominated by work that stays with a person. What I would do with a year is get formally recognised for the layer around it (the systems, the compliance, the planning), so you are the one who understands the software instead of the one it is done to. Before you pay for anything, use CareerOneStop - Find local training. It is free, it is the Labor Department's own service, and it is listed below with the rest of the free routes.

The roads out of here

You did not come here for a career change and I am not selling you one. But two roads out of here are worth knowing about, so here they are with the bill attached.

  • Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationKindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education

    a year or morematched on shared tasks

    One of the tasks on your list is on theirs in the same words: “teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills”. Take both published task lists together and about 64% of the work in that job that the software is not taking is work you are doing today.

    Half of what they do, you do already. The argument is about the other half, not about starting again.

    The work the two jobs share

    • You already do

      “Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills.”

      They do

      “Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills.”

    • You already do

      “Demonstrate activities to children.”

      They do

      “Demonstrate activities to children.”

    • You already do

      “Observe and evaluate children's performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.”

      They do

      “Observe and evaluate children's performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.”

    What you would not already have: Nothing in your task list touches “prepare children for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities…”, “guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or special academic…” or “confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve…”. That is the part you would be learning from scratch, and it is roughly the 36% of their durable work you do not already hold.

    The honest bill

    Pay: $62,680 against your $38,140 (OEWS May 2025 (both)).

    • The licence gate: Default-closed. This release carries no licence-register snapshot, so I could not check whether that job is regulated, which means I have to assume it might be. Before you spend a penny, look it up on the US Labor Department’s licensed-occupations finder; the free routes below link straight to it. The route is banded a year or more because of that unknown, not in spite of it.
    • The entry ticket: Typical entry-level education is published for only ten occupations in this release, and neither this job nor that one is among them. So I cannot tell you whether a qualification stands in the way. Treat that as an open question to settle before you commit, not as a green light.
    • What the pay gap is telling you: $62,680 against your $38,140, 64.3% more (OEWS May 2025 (both)). A real difference, not a life-changing one. Take the move for the work, not the raise.
    • What you live on meanwhile: Nobody is going to pay you to retrain. This is evenings and weekends alongside the job you already have, for a year or more, and if that is not possible right now then this route is not open right now, which is worth knowing before you start. The free American Job Center service listed below will talk training funding through with you before you pay anyone.
    • How many seats there are: About 108,870 of those jobs against 478,780 of yours (OEWS May 2025), 23% as many seats. A real door, not a wide one.
    • Is the target job itself holding up: Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education scores 18/100 on this site’s own exposure measure (minimal), with 8% of its tasks in the top band. Employment projections are not published for this occupation in this release, so this is the exposure leg of the check only. It passed, which is the only reason it is here.

    How long: A year or more, part-time, alongside the job you have. That band is set by the unchecked licence question and by the 36% of their work you would be learning, not by any one course.

    See what AI is doing to kindergarten teachers, except special education

  • Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationMiddle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

    a year or morematched on shared tasks

    One of the tasks on your list is on theirs in the same words: “enforce all administration policies and rules governing students”. Take both published task lists together and about 45% of the work in that job that the software is not taking is work you are doing today.

    About 45% of it you could do on Monday. The rest is the price of the ticket.

    The work the two jobs share

    • You already do

      “Enforce all administration policies and rules governing students.”

      They do

      “Enforce all administration policies and rules governing students.”

    • You already do

      “Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order.”

      They do

      “Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.”

    • You already do

      “Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guests, or other experiential activities and guide students in learning from those activities.”

      They do

      “Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guest speakers, or other experiential activities, and guide students in learning from such activities.”

    What you would not already have: Nothing in your task list touches “instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects”, “assign lessons and correct homework” or “prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress”. That is the part you would be learning from scratch, and it is roughly the 55% of their durable work you do not already hold.

    The honest bill

    Pay: $64,370 against your $38,140 (OEWS May 2025 (both)).

    • The licence gate: Default-closed. This release carries no licence-register snapshot, so I could not check whether that job is regulated, which means I have to assume it might be. Before you spend a penny, look it up on the US Labor Department’s licensed-occupations finder; the free routes below link straight to it. The route is banded a year or more because of that unknown, not in spite of it.
    • The entry ticket: Typical entry-level education is published for only ten occupations in this release, and neither this job nor that one is among them. So I cannot tell you whether a qualification stands in the way. Treat that as an open question to settle before you commit, not as a green light.
    • What the pay gap is telling you: $64,370 against your $38,140, 68.8% more (OEWS May 2025 (both)). A real difference, not a life-changing one. Take the move for the work, not the raise.
    • What you live on meanwhile: Nobody is going to pay you to retrain. This is evenings and weekends alongside the job you already have, for a year or more, and if that is not possible right now then this route is not open right now, which is worth knowing before you start. The free American Job Center service listed below will talk training funding through with you before you pay anyone.
    • Is the target job itself holding up: Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education scores 25/100 on this site’s own exposure measure (low), with 11% of its tasks in the top band. Employment projections are not published for this occupation in this release, so this is the exposure leg of the check only. It passed, which is the only reason it is here.

    How long: A year or more, part-time, alongside the job you have. That band is set by the unchecked licence question and by the 55% of their work you would be learning, not by any one course.

    See what AI is doing to middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education

3 moves I checked and rejected

These are the obvious-looking jumps. They are here with their reasons rather than quietly dropped, because the ones that fail are worth knowing about. It is one less thing to turn over at night.

  • Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

    Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour on the work AI is not taking: you already read books to entire classes or to small groups, and their equivalent is to read books to entire classes or small groups. Across both published task lists that is about 51% of the durable work in that job.

    Why I am not recommending it: I will not move you off one melting floe onto another: that job is projected to shrink 2.0% between 2024 and 2034 (BLS Employment Projections).

    Look at that job’s page anyway →

  • Special Education Teachers, Preschool

    Why it looked obvious: It cleared every check: about 44% of its durable work is work you already do.

    Why I am not recommending it: Nothing is wrong with this one. It passed every check and then came next on shared work behind the routes above, and a page carries two at most. It is here so you can see it was weighed rather than missed.

    Look at that job’s page anyway →

  • Self-Enrichment Teachers

    Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour on the work AI is not taking: you already attend professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve…, and their equivalent is to attend professional meetings, conferences, and workshops to maintain and improve professional competence. Across both published task lists that is about 33% of the durable work in that job.

    Why I am not recommending it: It is closer than most, and still not close enough: about 33% of that job's durable work is already yours, against the 35% I want to see before I will call something a route.

    Look at that job’s page anyway →

What I’d stop worrying about

A friend tells you what not to spend fear on. This is that list.

  • The headline number you read somewhere

    The big “X% of jobs” figures are about the whole economy, not about you. The number that describes your job is on this page: 5% of its task weight, across 34 scored tasks. Every row behind it is printed above with the source. Check ours; ignore theirs.

  • The headlines about your trade disappearing

    They are usually about the technology, not the timetable. Changes to work like teaching basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene and social skills arrive through rules, insurance and money, slowly and visibly. This page tracks the task evidence and will move when it moves.

  • Retraining out of a job that is holding up

    On this evidence I would not spend money leaving. Spend it on the layer around the job instead: the tools, the paperwork, the planning. That is where the change actually is.

  • The “obvious” next job everyone suggests

    I checked the obvious moves and most of them did not survive. The reasons are printed with the routes above, including the pay and the gate. A move that fails on the numbers is worth knowing about so you can stop turning it over at night.

You are reading the United States figures

The United Kingdom splits this work across more than one official group, of which Nursery education teaching professionals is the closest. The pay and employment figures are not directly comparable, and we do not average them together.

Switch to the United Kingdom page →partial match

In UK official statistics this job is counted as Nursery education teaching professionals. Pay and employment stay on this page’s own group; the task list and the scores do not cross over.

Your route through this

Where to go next, and what it costs

Free, and complete

The moves above cost nothing. These are the real services that go with them: public, government-funded, and free at the point of use. Nothing on this page is behind an email address or a payment.

No Space for this job, but one for what is happening to it

Nothing Collab365 runs is built for preschool teachers / except special education, and we are not going to point you at the nearest one and call it a fit.

There is one that is not about a job title at all. The AI Authority is about being the person who directs these tools at work rather than the person they get compared to. That is worth saying here, because 5% of the work on this page is already inside what they can do.

Try The AI Authority free →

7 days free, no card needed. Explore up to 2 Spaces before you choose a plan: you pick a plan later, not now.

The AI Authority is a general community about working with AI, not a course for preschool teachers / except special education. You do not need it to act on anything here: the moves above cost nothing and stand on their own. The data on this page is the same either way.

Nearby moves

The jobs above, as pages you can read the same way as this one. Your job shares its core work with these. That is what the match is, and it is all it is.

Noted, and thank you. We’ll email you if a Space for preschool teachers / except special education launches. Nothing else.

That did not look like an email address, so nothing was saved. Have another go below.

We could not save that. The fault is ours, not yours, and your address was not stored. Please try again later.

No Space for preschool teachers / except special education yet. Should there be one?

Collab365 Spaces is built by the same people as this site. We find the problems that AI and automation are creating inside one kind of work, then solve them as short courses, briefings and Blueprints. Each Space is the community too, so the research and the people doing your job are in the same place.

What a Space actually is, in full

Collab365 launches new communities where the need is real. If one for preschool teachers / except special education existed, with researched problems, courses and people in the same boat, would you want in?

We use your email address for one thing: to tell you if a Space for preschool teachers / except special education launches. We never sell it, never use it for unrelated marketing, and every email has a one-click unsubscribe. Our privacy policy has the full version.

This unlocks nothing. Every figure, every row and every step on this page is already yours, whether you fill this in or not.

No deadline on any of this. The page will still be here, and the data is refreshed on a published schedule rather than when someone wants a headline.

Questions people ask about this job

Will AI replace Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education?
Not as a job, but it is already doing parts of the work. Across the 34 official task statements scored for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education (United States, SOC 25-2011), 5% of the importance-weighted core work is made of tasks today's AI could already do most of. The overall exposure score is 16 out of 100 (range 11–23, band: minimal). That is a statement about tasks, not about headcount: this measures what AI could do, not whether any employer adopts it, whether the law allows it, or whether doing the routine parts faster creates more demand for the human parts. Figures are from release 2026-q4.1.
Which tasks in “Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education” can AI already do?
The highest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations” (81/100, very high); “Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration” (81/100, very high); “Select, store, order, issue, and inventory classroom equipment, materials, and supplies” (38/100, low). Each score comes from five published 0–4 ratings turned into a number by a published formula, and each carries the model's one-sentence reason on the page.
Which tasks in “Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education” stay human?
About 95% of this job's task weight sits in work that scores low for AI exposure. The lowest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Perform administrative duties, such as hall and cafeteria monitoring and bus loading and unloading” (0/100, minimal); “Provide students with disabilities with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms” (0/100, minimal); “Assimilate arriving children to the school environment by greeting them, helping them remove outerwear, and selecting activities of interest to them” (0/100, minimal). Low scores usually mean the task needs a body in a room, a legally accountable human, or trust built in real time. Those are the three things the scoring rubric treats as gates rather than obstacles.
What should someone working in “Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education” do about AI?
Start from the ledger rather than the headline: 5% of this job's weighted core work is exposed, and roughly 95% is not. The practical move is to spend more of your week on the tasks that score low, the ones above, and to get fluent at directing AI through the tasks that score high, because those are the parts that change whether or not you are ready for them. This page does not predict your job, and nothing here is career advice tailored to you: the score describes the occupation, not the person.
How is the AI exposure score for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education calculated?
Each official task statement for the occupation is rated on five published 0–4 dimensions (output replicability, physical embodiment, licensed accountability, real-time human trust, and data availability) by claude-opus-5 using scoring prompt task_scoring_v1.0. The model never writes the score; a published formula turns the five ratings into a 0–100 number, so every score can be recomputed by hand. The occupation figure is the importance-weighted mean across 34 scored tasks. The prompt, the rubric, the formula and the full dataset are published at https://futureproof.collab365.com/method and https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1 under CC BY 4.0.

Where these numbers come from

About the data on this page

  • 11 tasks scored differently between repeat runs, so their range on this page is wider. We would rather show the wobble than hide it.
  • The match between this job and its counterpart in the other country is partial, so the two pages count slightly different groups of people.
  • 24 of this occupation's scored task statements carry a score that was measured under a different occupation's context, because the statement is shared between jobs and has only been scored once so far. Each one names the occupation it was measured under in the free routes below; none is presented as a measurement for this job.
  • Task clusters are not derived in this release, so the task-cluster field is empty and no Collab365 Space routing is attached to this occupation yet.
Task statements
onet-dbProcessing: catalogue-bridge → onet-im-rt-weighting → task-scoring → score-aggregation
Task weights
onet-db (im-rt)
Scores
Rubric task_scoring_v1.0, model claude-opus-5, computed 2026-08-05.
Pay and employment
bls-oews (May 2025 estimates (national_M2025_dl.xlsx))bls-oews (May 2025 estimates (national_M2025_dl.xlsx))

Figures on this page come from release 2026-q4.1, published 2026-08-05. Every release keeps its own permanent address, so a figure you cite in March is still there, unchanged, in November.

The plain-English wording on this page is assembled directly from the task statements and the published ratings, not written by hand for this occupation. That is why it is specific, and it is also why we say so.

The routes and free resources further up are today’s, not the release’s (last reviewed 2026-08-05). A route is an offer, not a historical fact, so it moves on its own clock.

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Using these figures?

Cite this

Everything on this site is published under CC BY 4.0. Quote it, chart it, sell something built on it. Just say where it came from, and cite the dated release rather than the site, so the figure you quote stays checkable.

Plain text

Collab365 (2026). Collab365 Futureproof: task-level AI exposure for US and UK occupations, release 2026-q4.1 (methodVersion 2.0.0, promptVersion task_scoring_v1.0). https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Built with O*NET data (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); ONS data (Open Government Licence v3.0); GAISI task framework (arXiv:2507.22748, MIT); BLS data (public domain).

BibTeX

@misc{collab365futureproof2026q41,
  title        = {Collab365 Futureproof: task-level AI exposure for US and UK occupations, release 2026-q4.1},
  author       = {{Collab365}},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1},
  note         = {Release 2026-q4.1, methodVersion 2.0.0, promptVersion task_scoring_v1.0, CC BY 4.0}
}

Permalink

https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1

Data as of release 2026-q4.1, published . Releases never change after publication; when the figures move, a new dated release is published beside this one and this one stays exactly where it is.