New York City Public Schools intend to prohibit students in grades K-2 through eight from using student-facing artificial intelligence tools during the 2026-27 school year, according to school officials and people familiar with the policy.
The restrictions are likely to apply to generative AI applications that interact directly with students, such as chatbots, AI tutors and instructional software. The policy would apply to the city’s early childhood, elementary and middle schools, according to Chalkbeat.
The move is a major departure from the original AI guidance released by the school system earlier this year.
In March, NYC Public Schools released a framework that allowed some use of AI with safeguards and supervision by humans. For example, students might use AI for research, inquiry and creative projects under the guidance of educators and where the use was deemed appropriate for their age. AI was also barred from making decisions in high-risk areas such as grading, student placement, discipline and counselling.
The city’s stance shifted after parents, educators and elected officials raised concerns about the impact of generative AI on learning, student privacy and the importance of technology in classrooms.
In June, 29 members of the New York City Council signed a letter requesting that Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Schools Chancellor Kamar H. Samuels impose a two-year moratorium on generative AI in the public schools.
Mamdana said, too, the city is looking at ways to address AI in public schools. The city will put a moratorium on generative AI for students in lower grades as it studies the technology’s effects, the mayor told ABC News.
Further rules are expected, which will also address the use of screens in classrooms, with reports of separate limits on screen time for younger students.
The policy will impact a large segment of the city’s public school population. The New York Daily News said the restrictions could impact nearly 600,000 students, roughly two-thirds of the system’s enrolment.
The policy comes as school systems across the country continue to debate the extent to which students should be able to access generative AI. Supporters argue that students require guidance on how to use the technology responsibly, while critics have voiced concerns regarding academic integrity, over-reliance on automated tools, privacy and the possible impact on learning.
In New York City, the immediate question is how the new restrictions will define prohibited student-facing AI tools and whether there will be exceptions made for approved educational technology.
The city’s final guidance will be critical to the implementation of the policy in classrooms when students return for the 2026-27 school year.
