New York City announced on September 2 that it will ban the use of artificial intelligence tools for students in public schools through eighth grade, starting with the 2026–2027 school year [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Approximately 600,000 students in pre-K through eighth grade will be affected by the moratorium in the city's public school system [3].
Students will only be allowed to access AI tools from ninth grade onward, and even then only for specific educational purposes, such as learning about AI technology itself [1, 2, 4, 5, 6]. The ban also includes a citywide prohibition of AI companion chatbots that offer psychological or emotional support for students of all grades [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
New York City teachers retain the ability to use AI to assist with non-student-facing tasks like lesson planning and composing messages [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Exceptions to the ban may be granted in special cases, such as for students with disabilities, multilingual learners, or for certain computer science education [3].
The New York City Department of Education recommends limiting screen time to 30 minutes per day for elementary students and 45 minutes for middle schoolers to promote healthy learning habits [1, 3].
Mayor Zohran Mamdani emphasized the importance of human interaction in education, stating, "Children need teachers and human connection in order to learn and grow. They need to develop skills alongside their peers, build relationships with educators, and wrestle with tough problems on their own. The tech industry wants us to believe that AI-powered early education is not only inevitable, but necessary. We do not see it that way" [3].
The announcement follows criticism of an earlier AI framework published by the NYC education department in March 2026, which allowed some AI use under a traffic light system [1]. The city plans to establish a task force made up of teachers, elected officials, experts, and union representatives to further develop AI policies for schools, with a report due in April 2027 [1].
A small pilot program will introduce vetted AI education tools in up to five high school classes. These tools will have strict usage limits and emphasize students as the primary thinkers in the learning process [3].
With over 900,000 students enrolled in public schools for the 2024–2025 year, New York City is the largest school district in the United States [1]. The new AI restrictions mark a major policy shift in managing AI’s role in education across the city’s diverse student body [3].
