How Can We Use AI to Reduce Report Writing Time While Still Preserving the Professional Judgment of the School Psychologist?

As a former school psychologist and supervisor of school psychologists, I've spent a lot of time thinking about a question that seems to be everywhere right now:

Can AI help school psychologists save time without compromising the quality, ethics, and professional judgment that our work requires?

It's an important question, and frankly, one we should be asking.

Like many school psychologists, I spent years balancing large caseloads, tight timelines, and the never-ending demand of report writing. Later, as a supervisor, I watched talented practitioners struggle to keep up with documentation requirements while still trying to provide meaningful support to students, families, and school teams.

The challenge was not a lack of expertise.

The challenge was time.

School psychologists spend years developing the skills necessary to analyze assessment data, interpret patterns, make eligibility decisions, and communicate findings in a way that supports students. Yet many of us spend a significant portion of our week completing tasks that, while necessary, don't require the full depth of our professional training.

That's where I believe AI has the potential to help.

But I also believe there are lines we should be careful not to cross.

The Role AI Should Not Play

In my opinion, AI should never replace the professional judgment of a school psychologist. This might be a hot take, but I believe… 

AI should not analyze assessment results. AI should not determine eligibility. AI should not make professional judgements. 

Those responsibilities belong to trained professionals who understand the context, the data, the student, and the educational environment. AI simply cannot know, understand, or appreciate the full context of the individual student and their unique circumstances. 

When we hand over those decisions to technology, we risk losing the very expertise that makes our profession valuable.

The Role AI Can Play

Where AI can be incredibly helpful is in reducing the administrative burden that often consumes our time.

Imagine spending less time:

• Formatting reports

• Drafting background sections

• Summarizing assessment results

• Organizing information across multiple sources

And more time:

• Analyzing patterns

• Consulting with teachers

• Meeting with families

• Directly supporting students!!!

That's the balance I believe we should be striving for.

Why We Built LilyAssist This Way

When we developed LilyAssist, we intentionally designed it to support report writing without replacing professional judgment.

One of the most important decisions we made was that LilyAssist would not generate interpretation or make conclusions for users.

Instead, it helps school psychologists organize information, draft report sections, summarize assessment data, and create parent-friendly language that can then be reviewed, edited, and individualized by the psychologist.

The goal was never to replace expertise.

The goal was to give school psychologists more time to use it.

The Future of AI in School Psychology

I don't think the question is whether AI will become part of our profession.

I think the question is whether we will use it thoughtfully.

As school psychologists, we have an opportunity to shape how AI is used in ways that support ethical practice, preserve professional judgment, and reduce the administrative burden that contributes to burnout.

If AI can help us spend less time writing reports and more time serving students, families, and schools, then I believe it's a conversation worth having.

The key is remembering that technology should support professional expertise—not replace it.