Use Google Docs AI to Draft IEP Sections

What This Does

Google Docs has a built-in AI writing assistant ("Help me write") that can draft or continue text directly inside your document — so you can draft IEP sections without leaving the tool where you're already working.

Before You Start

• You have Google Docs open in Chrome or Firefox
• You're signed into your Google account (school or personal)
• Your district uses Google Workspace for Education (this feature is available in both free and paid versions)

Steps

1. Open a new or existing IEP draft document

Open Google Docs and either create a new document for your IEP draft or open the one you've already started. The "Help me write" feature works in any Google Doc.

2. Find the "Help me write" button

Click at the beginning of a blank paragraph where you want IEP content to appear. On the left side of the page, you'll see a small pencil icon with a sparkle (✦). Click it. A small prompt box will pop up inline in your document.

What you should see: A text entry field that says "Help me write..." with a blue arrow button on the right.

Troubleshooting: If you don't see the pencil icon, your account may not have Workspace AI features enabled. Try right-clicking in the document and looking for "Help me write" in the context menu, or check with your school's IT admin.

3. Type your IEP section request

In the prompt box, describe what you want the AI to draft. Be specific about the IEP section and student information (without real names).

What to type for Present Levels:

Draft an IEP present levels section for a 3rd-grade student with dyslexia. Reading: 1st grade level, struggles with phonemic awareness. Math: grade level. Social skills: appropriate. Strengths: verbal reasoning, creativity.

What to type for IEP Goals:

Write 2 SMART annual IEP goals targeting phonemic awareness and decoding for a 2nd-grade student with specific learning disability in reading. Include baseline and measurement criteria.

4. Click the blue arrow and wait

Click the arrow button or press Enter. Google Docs AI will draft the content and show it inline in your document as a suggestion.

What you should see: A grey or highlighted block of text appears below your prompt with the drafted content.

5. Accept, edit, or regenerate

• Click Insert to accept the text and add it to your document
• Click Refine to give follow-up instructions ("make it shorter" or "use more professional language")
• Click the x to discard and try again

6. Edit and finalize

After inserting, review the draft carefully. Replace placeholder descriptions with the student's specific data, ensure goals are measurable, and verify the language meets your district's IEP format requirements.

Real Example

Scenario: You're writing 5 IEPs this week and need to draft present levels for a 4th-grade student with autism who's reading at grade level but struggling with social pragmatics.

What you type into "Help me write":

Write an IEP present levels section for a 4th-grade student with autism. Academic skills: grade level in reading and math. Social/communication: difficulty with peer interactions, turn-taking, and reading social cues. Attends to task well in 1:1 settings.

What you get: A 2-3 paragraph professional present levels narrative using standard SPED language, ready to edit and personalize with your student's specific data and assessment scores.

Tips

• Use "Help me write" at the START of each IEP section as a first draft, then layer in your specific data and observations — it's much faster than writing from scratch
• For progress notes, place your cursor after a goal statement and use "Help me write" to say "Write a progress note showing improvement from 40% to 65% accuracy over 4 weeks"
• If the draft is too generic, click Refine and add more specific details about the student's disability category and grade level

Tool interfaces change — if a button has moved, look for similar AI/magic/smart options in the same menu area.