A mother’s worst nightmare became the fuel for a revolutionary educational startup. Cognitive scientist Antoinette Banks built an AI-powered app that is transforming how families navigate special education support.
Her tool, Expert IEP, has already raised nearly $2 million in funding. It serves thousands of families across the country who struggle with overwhelming disability documentation.
A Devastating Diagnosis That Changed Everything
Banks’ daughter received a neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosis at just five years old. The condition was later identified as autism and ADHD.
Doctors delivered an especially painful prognosis. They told Banks there was a zero percent chance her daughter would ever achieve adult autonomy.
The situation became even more discouraging when Banks sought legal help. A special education attorney offered advice that was both shocking and racially charged. “Black families don’t care enough about things like being autistic, so you might want to put her in a facility to give her the best shot,” Banks recalled being told.
From Night Classes to Cognitive Science Degree
Rather than accepting these dismissive assessments, Banks chose education as her weapon. She began taking night classes at a community college with fierce determination.
Her dedication led her to enroll at UC Davis. She eventually graduated with a bachelor’s degree in cognitive science, studying how the brain functions.
During her undergraduate years, she began researching the state of IEPs nationally. She built a database based on families’ real experiences. Most of these families were Black and brown, reflecting communities most underserved by the system.
Research Reveals Racial Gaps in Special Education
Banks compared her database findings against Department of Education datasets. She looked specifically for patterns showing what actually works for families of color.
The findings were both revealing and troubling. “Those are the main families who are not getting access to college or gainful employment or even more therapeutic care,” she told AfroTech.
One particularly striking finding involved the language used in IEP documents. IEPs written for Black students typically contained more penal language. By contrast, those written for white students skewed toward collaborative, supportive language. Expert IEP actively writes this racial bias out of existence.
Understanding What IEPs Actually Mean for Families
For any K-12 student who learns differently, an IEP is foundational. These documents govern what support a child receives throughout their school journey.
Banks explains their importance clearly and accessibly. “[IEPs are] a federally mandated, legally defensible document for your child that might have a disability or learning difference,” she explained in an Instagram video.
The documents can be overwhelming for everyone involved. “It’s a contract that you as a family are creating with school leaders to get the appropriate support,” she continued. Many families struggle to understand or engage with these critical documents effectively.
80 Percent of IEP Documents Are Inaccessible to Families
Banks’ forthcoming research reveals a staggering accessibility problem. Nearly 80% of all IEP documents are written in formats families cannot easily understand.
This finding is set to be published in the American Educational Research Association Journal. The implications for millions of families are significant and urgent.
Expert IEP directly addresses this accessibility gap. The tool translates complex educational and legal language into clear, actionable information. Families can finally understand the documents that shape their children’s futures.
Expert IEP Launches to Solve a Costly Problem
Banks launched Expert IEP in 2021 while still completing her undergraduate degree. The timing was deliberate and urgent—families needed help immediately.
The cost barrier in special education advocacy is enormous. A paid IEP advocate can cost families up to $14,000 annually.
Expert IEP offers limited free options for qualifying families. Paid subscription plans are available at a fraction of the traditional advocacy cost. This pricing model democratizes access to support that was previously reserved for wealthier families.
Real Results for Thousands of Families
The impact of Expert IEP is already measurable and meaningful. Thousands of families currently use the platform with impressive results.
Users report increased motivation and confidence in navigating the school system. Children whose families use the app are showing improvement in letter grades.
Schools are also implementing IEPs more quickly when families use Expert IEP. These outcomes validate Banks’ research-driven approach to solving educational inequality. The tool doesn’t just simplify documents—it actively improves children’s educational trajectories.
Nearly $2 Million Raised Including Black Ambition Prize
Banks’ innovative approach attracted significant investment attention. She has raised nearly $2 million in total funding to date.
A landmark $1 million came from Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition Prize in 2023. Additional funders include Camelback Ventures and NewSchools Venture Fund, among others.
The investment demonstrates growing recognition of the problem she’s solving. It also validates her research-backed methodology and platform design. Banks is building something the education system desperately needs.
Pursuing a PhD While Building a Startup
Banks graduated from UC Davis with her Bachelor of Science in 2022. That same fall, she began her PhD journey at the same university.
She continues developing Expert IEP alongside her doctoral research. The two pursuits complement and strengthen each other significantly.
Her ongoing PhD work deepens her understanding of racial bias in educational documentation. Every new research finding improves the tool she’s building. She represents a rare combination of academic rigor and entrepreneurial action.
Expanding Expert IEP to Entire School Districts
Banks is already planning Expert IEP’s next major evolution. She intends to launch a version specifically designed for school districts.
Currently, the platform serves individual families directly. The district-level version would allow schools to implement Expert IEP system-wide.
This expansion could multiply the tool’s impact exponentially. Instead of reaching one family at a time, it could support entire student populations. Banks is scaling her mission to match the enormous size of the problem she’s solving.