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Special Education Teachers, Middle School

developing or writing Individualized Education Programs, maintaining accurate and completing student records and employing special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills. If that's your week, this page is about your job.

The honest answer

AI changes the edges of this job, not the middle: establishing and enforcing rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students is work software can't reach.

Your move: what you can actually do about this ↓

What shifts is preparing for assigned classes and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisors: the overhead at the edges, not the middle you trained for.

Your week, as this page understands it

Teach academic, social, and life skills to middle school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities. The job title says “special education teachers” or “middle school”: officially one job, two names. The real job is the part underneath: establishing and enforcing rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students. 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 special education teachers, middle school is not one task. It is 40 scored ones, and they are nowhere near equally exposed. The most durable of them, on this evidence, is establishing and enforcing rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students, and the ledger below shows exactly why.

Where the work sits, by task weight

shifting to AI
8%
changing shape
11%
staying human
81%

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

Whole-job exposure score 21 out of 100 (15–29 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, across 40 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 special education teachers, middle school 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

3 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.

  • 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, and prepare reports on children and activities, as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 66 out of 100 (62–70 allowing for uncertainty): 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: Student records and required reports are structured documents that software drafts well from data already held.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · 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.

  • Preparing for assigned classes and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisors

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

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Prepare for assigned classes, and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisors.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 75 out of 100 (68–82 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, medium 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: Preparing lessons and producing written evidence of that preparation is planning paperwork AI drafts well.

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

  • Preparing objectives and outlines for courses of study

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

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements of states and schools.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 88 out of 100 (81–95 allowing for uncertainty): very high exposure, medium 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: Course outlines follow published state curriculum standards, so producing them is document work AI does to a high standard.

    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 4/4.

Changing shape

4 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.

  • Establishing clear objectives for all lessons

    The software now makes the first pass at clear objectives, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.

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

    Exposure score: 56 out of 100 (52–60 allowing for uncertainty): partial 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: Lesson objectives follow curriculum standards and are quick for tools to draft well.

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

  • Modifying the general education curriculum for students with disabilities

    The software now makes the first pass at the general education curriculum, but someone has to be answerable for the result, and it cannot be the software. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Modify the general education curriculum for students with disabilities, based upon a variety of instructional techniques and instructional technology.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 56 out of 100 (49–63 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Adapting curriculum material for different needs is exactly the kind of rewriting software does well.

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

  • Developing or writing Individualized Education Programs

    The software now makes the first pass at individualized education programs, but someone has to be answerable for the result, and it cannot be the software. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.

    importance 5 · Core
    Source: “Develop or write Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 40 out of 100 (33–47 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: A plan drafts well from assessment data, but the law requires a qualified team to write and agree it.

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

  • Preparing, administering and grading tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress

    The software now makes the first pass at tests, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 49 out of 100 (39–59 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence, and it moved between repeat runs, so the range is widened.

    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: Writing and marking tests is well-suited to software, though the test still has to be given in the classroom.

    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 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

Staying human

33 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.

  • Establishing and enforcing rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students

    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 policies and procedures to maintain order among students.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 4 out of 100 (0–14 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium 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: Keeping order in a middle school classroom depends on a teacher the students know being present.

    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 2/4.

  • 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.

  • Guiding and counseling students with adjustments

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

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Guide and counsel students with adjustments, academic problems, or special academic interests.” (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: Advice can be drafted by software, but a student opening up about difficulties depends on trusting the teacher.

    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.

Show the other 30 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 3 · Supplemental
    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.

  • Using computers, audio-visual aids and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: computers, audio-visual aids and other equipment and materials, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 32 out of 100 (22–42 allowing for uncertainty): low 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: Making slides and other presentation materials is easy for software, though using them happens in front of the class.

    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 1/4 · 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 · Supplemental
    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.

  • Administering standardized ability and achievement tests

    staying human

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

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Administer standardized ability and achievement tests, and interpret results to determine students' strengths and needs.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 24 out of 100 (17–31 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; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Score interpretation is well documented and suits AI, but the tests must be supervised in person under strict rules.

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

  • Coordinating placement of students with special needs into mainstream classes

    staying human

    The rules require a named, qualified person to answer for placement of students, and that person cannot be a piece of software.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Coordinate placement of students with special needs into mainstream classes.” (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; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Timetabling and matching students to classes is schedulable, but placement decisions rest with the school team.

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

  • 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.

  • 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 3 · 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.

  • Developing and implementing strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of handicapping conditions

    staying human

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

    importance 5 · Core
    Source: “Develop and implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of handicapping conditions.” (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 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: Strategies can be drafted from documented approaches, but putting them into practice happens with the student 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 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Monitoring teachers and teacher assistants to ensure that they adhere to inclusive special education program requirements

    staying human

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

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Monitor teachers and teacher assistants to ensure that they adhere to inclusive special education program requirements.” (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: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Checking that colleagues follow the program means observing their teaching, not just reading their paperwork.

    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 2/4.

  • Collaborating with other teachers that provide instruction to special education students to ensure that the students receive appropriate support

    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 that provide instruction to special education students to ensure that the students receive appropriate support.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 14 out of 100 (7–21 allowing for uncertainty): minimal 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: Joint support works because colleagues coordinate live around a specific child they both teach.

    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 3/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Conferring with parents or guardians

    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: “Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 12 out of 100 (5–19 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: These conversations work because parents and staff trust the teacher who knows the child.

    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 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Meeting with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and to determine priorities for their children and their resource 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 to determine priorities for their children and their resource needs.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 12 out of 100 (5–19 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: Progress conversations with parents rest on trust built with the person who teaches their child.

    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 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Meeting with parents and guardians to provide guidance in using community resources and to teach skills for dealing with students' impairments

    staying human

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

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Meet with parents and guardians to provide guidance in using community resources and to teach skills for dealing with students' impairments.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 12 out of 100 (5–19 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: Coaching parents to handle their child's impairment depends on a trusting relationship built over many meetings.

    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 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Attending staff meetings and serving on committees

    staying human

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

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

    Exposure score: 11 out of 100 (4–18 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: Attending meetings and serving on committees means taking part yourself, though notes and summaries can be automated.

    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 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Conferring with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers and professionals to develop individual educational plans

    staying human

    The rules require a named, qualified person to answer for parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers and professionals, and that person cannot be a piece of software.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, and professionals to develop individual educational plans (IEPs) for students' educational, physical, and social development.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 10 out of 100 (3–17 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.

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

    The rating behind it: The meeting itself is the task, and the law requires the people around the table.

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

  • Providing additional instruction in vocational areas

    staying human

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

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Provide additional instruction in vocational areas.” (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: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Vocational instruction mixes teachable content with demonstration and practice alongside the student.

    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 2/4 · 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 3 · Core
    Source: “Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guest speakers, 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 (4–12 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: Trip planning can be drafted by software, but supervising teenagers on an outing needs a responsible adult present.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · 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.

  • Instructing through lectures, discussions and demonstrations in one or more subjects

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: lectures, discussions and demonstrations, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.” (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; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Software writes strong explanations, but holding the attention of a room of teenagers is done in person by a qualified teacher.

    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 3/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Teaching students personal development skills

    staying human

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

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Teach students personal development skills, such as goal setting, independence, and self-advocacy.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 6 out of 100 (0–13 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: Goal setting and self-advocacy are learned by practising them with a teacher present.

    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.

  • Organizing and supervising games and other recreational activities to promote physical

    staying human

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

    importance 4 · Supplemental
    Source: “Organize and supervise games and other recreational activities to promote physical, mental, and social development.” (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: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Running games and activities means being there with the group.

    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 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Observing and evaluating students' performance

    staying human

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

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.” (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: Judging a student's behavior, social development and health means watching them closely day after day.

    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.

  • Instructing and monitoring students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage

    staying human

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

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage.” (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: Teaching children to handle equipment safely and watching that they do means being there with them.

    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.

  • Teaching socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques, behavior modification and positive reinforcement

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: acceptable behavior, employing techniques, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 4 out of 100 (0–11 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: Behavior change comes from consistent responses from a person the student sees every day.

    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 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Instructing students in daily living skills required for independent maintenance and self-sufficiency

    staying human

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

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Instruct students in daily living skills required for independent maintenance and self-sufficiency, such as hygiene, safety, and food preparation.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 4 out of 100 (0–11 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: Teaching hygiene, safety and cooking means showing a student how, in person.

    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 2/4.

  • Employing special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills

    staying human

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

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 3 out of 100 (0–10 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium 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: These techniques are delivered in the moment, hands-on, with the individual student.

    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 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Visiting schools to tutor students with sensory impairments and to consult with teachers regarding students' special needs

    staying human

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

    importance 3 · Supplemental
    Source: “Visit schools to tutor students with sensory impairments and to consult with teachers regarding students' special needs.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 3 out of 100 (0–13 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium 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: Tutoring a student with sensory impairments happens face to face in their school.

    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 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Organizing and labelling materials and displaying students' work

    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.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–7 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.

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

    The rating behind it: Organising materials and putting up displays of children's work is physical classroom work.

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

  • Performing administrative duties, such as school library assistance, 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 3 · Core
    Source: “Perform administrative duties, such as school library assistance, 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: Hall duty, cafeteria monitoring and bus loading are about being physically present to supervise children.

    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 1/4.

  • Providing assistive devices, supportive technology and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: assistive devices, supportive technology and assistance accessing facilities, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Supplemental
    Source: “Provide 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 use a device or reach a restroom is hands-on assistance.

    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 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

What this job pays, and how many people do it

Median pay
$66,810a 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
95,200in 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: assigned classes in, a record out. The rows above are exactly that shape: preparing for assigned classes and maintaining accurate and completing student records. What it cannot do is be there in the room, and that is still where rules get done. 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: establishing and enforcing rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students is the middle of this job, and the evidence on this page says it stays with a person.

So, given all that: 8% of this job's task weight sits in rows the software is already learning, 11% in rows that change shape rather than disappear, and 81% in rows it is nowhere near. That is the position, measured across 40 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 for assigned classes and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisors 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 assigned classes, 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 rules 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 establishing clear objectives for all lessons. 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.

  • Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolSpecial Education Teachers, Secondary School

    a year or morematched on shared tasks

    One of the tasks on your list is on theirs in the same words: “establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students”. Take both published task lists together and about 71% 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

      “Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.”

      They do

      “Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.”

    • You already do

      “Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory.”

      They do

      “Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory.”

    • You already do

      “Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.”

      They do

      “Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.”

    What you would not already have: Nothing in your task list touches “prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities…”, “collaborate with other teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision…” or “sponsor extracurricular activities”. That is the part you would be learning from scratch, and it is roughly the 29% of their durable work you do not already hold.

    The honest bill

    Pay: $74,260 against your $66,810 (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: $74,260 against your $66,810, 11.2% 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: Special Education Teachers, Secondary School scores 23/100 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 29% of their work you would be learning, not by any one course.

    See what AI is doing to special education teachers, secondary school

  • Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolSpecial Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School

    a year or morematched on shared tasks

    You already teach students personal development skills. In that job the same thing shows up as teach students personal development skills. Take both published task lists together and about 59% 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 students personal development skills, such as goal setting, independence, and self-advocacy.”

      They do

      “Teach students personal development skills, such as goal setting, independence, or self-advocacy.”

    • You already do

      “Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.”

      They do

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

    • You already do

      “Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.”

      They do

      “Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement.”

    What you would not already have: Nothing in your task list touches “encourage students to explore learning opportunities or persevere with challenging tasks to…”. That is the part you would be learning from scratch, and it is roughly the 41% of their durable work you do not already hold.

    The honest bill

    A pay cut: $65,120 against your $66,810 (OEWS May 2025 (both)). I am saying the words: you would earn less. Decide that on purpose, not by accident.

    • 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: $65,120 against your $66,810, 2.5% less (OEWS May 2025 (both)). I am saying the words: you would earn slightly less. Decide that on purpose.
    • 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: Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School scores 16/100 on this site’s own exposure measure (minimal), with 9% 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 41% of their work you would be learning, not by any one course.

    See what AI is doing to special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school

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.

  • Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

    Why it looked obvious: It cleared every check: about 53% 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 →

  • 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 establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order…, and their equivalent is to establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the…. Across both published task lists that is about 50% 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 →

  • Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors

    Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour on the work AI is not taking: you already establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order…, and their equivalent is to establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the…. Across both published task lists that is about 31% of the durable work in that job.

    Why I am not recommending it: It is closer than most, and still not close enough: about 31% 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: 8% of its task weight, across 40 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 establishing and enforcing rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students 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 Special and additional needs 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 Special and additional needs 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 special education teachers / middle school, 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 8% 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 special education teachers / middle school. 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 special education teachers / middle school 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 special education teachers / middle school 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 special education teachers / middle school 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 special education teachers / middle school 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 Special Education Teachers, Middle School?
Not as a job, but it is already doing parts of the work. Across the 40 official task statements scored for Special Education Teachers, Middle School (United States, SOC 25-2057), 8% of the importance-weighted core work is made of tasks today's AI could already do most of. The overall exposure score is 21 out of 100 (range 15–29, band: low). 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 “Special Education Teachers, Middle School” can AI already do?
The highest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements of states and schools” (88/100, very high); “Prepare for assigned classes, and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisors” (75/100, high); “Maintain accurate and complete student records, and prepare reports on children and activities, as required by laws, district policies, and administrative re…” (66/100, high). 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 “Special Education Teachers, Middle School” stay human?
About 81% 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: “Provide assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms” (0/100, minimal); “Perform administrative duties, such as school library assistance, hall and cafeteria monitoring, and bus loading and unloading” (0/100, minimal); “Organize and label materials and display students' work” (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 “Special Education Teachers, Middle School” do about AI?
Start from the ledger rather than the headline: 8% of this job's weighted core work is exposed, and roughly 81% 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 Special Education Teachers, Middle School 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 40 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.
  • 35 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.

How we score a jobDownload this releaseLook up another job

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.