Education Policy
New York City implements broad moratorium on AI use for elementary and middle school students
NYC's Department of Education will ban artificial intelligence tools in classrooms for roughly 600,000 students in grades K-8 starting in the 2026-2027 school year, marking one of the nation's strictest policies on educational technology.
The Verge
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has unveiled a sweeping set of restrictions on AI and digital device use in New York City's public schools, implementing what city officials characterize as one of America's most stringent regulatory frameworks around classroom technology. The one-year moratorium will begin in the 2026-2027 school year and affect approximately 600,000 students across grades 2-K through 8.
The Core Restrictions#
The policy bars several categories of technology from younger classrooms:
- Artificial intelligence tools — Students in elementary and middle school cannot use generative AI or similar systems during instruction
- Chatbots — Companion chatbots designed to provide emotional support or social interaction are prohibited across all grade levels
- AI-assisted grading — Teachers are forbidden from deploying AI systems to evaluate student assignments
- Individual screens — Younger students in pre-K through second grade cannot use individual screens during school hours
High School and Exceptions#
The restrictions ease somewhat for older students. Ninth graders and above may use AI in carefully defined contexts and will receive AI literacy instruction twice annually to cultivate critical thinking about the technology. The Department of Education has also carved out carve-outs for students with disabilities and English-language learners, as well as specialized computer science programs.
Parallel Device Limits#
The AI restrictions complement a separate ban on personal internet-connected devices—chiefly smartphones—that took effect during the 2025-2026 school year. The district is also recommending screen time ceilings: middle schoolers should spend no more than 45 minutes per day in front of devices.
A Controlled Pilot Program#
Rather than rejecting all AI outright, the department is testing select tools in a limited number of high school classrooms. The five-school pilot will evaluate platforms that have passed privacy and safety vetting, including Quill (English support), Edia (mathematics), Brisk Teaching (study guides), Playlab, and Intel AI-Ready Schools. All pilot tools include usage time restrictions.
