NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 2: New York City has imposed a one-year moratorium on the use of student-facing generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools by students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, as part of a broader policy aimed at regulating the use of technology in schools.
The policy, which will be implemented during the 2026-27 academic year, will cover all software using student-facing generative AI. Companion chatbots will also be prohibited across all grades, according to the New York City Public Schools.
The city, however, will adopt a different approach for high school students. They will receive AI literacy instruction through modules conducted twice a year, while a limited number of classrooms will be allowed to participate in supervised pilot programmes involving five approved AI tools. Their use will be restricted to specific educational purposes and carried out under teacher supervision.
The policy is expected to affect nearly 600,000 students, or about two-thirds of the city’s public school enrolment. Teachers will continue to be allowed to use AI for instructional planning and certain operational tasks, subject to the school system’s safety and privacy requirements.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the policy was intended to ensure that AI did not replace human interaction and the intellectual work involved in learning. The city will review the impact of the moratorium and the pilot programmes during the academic year before deciding on the next course of action.
The policy also recommends limits on individual screen time, including 30 minutes a day for students in grades 3 to 5 and 45 minutes for those in grades 6 to 8. Exceptions will apply to assistive technologies and certain approved educational activities.
