New York City’s public school system — the largest K–12 district in the United States — has implemented comprehensive restrictions on school-based use of artificial intelligence (AI) and personal screens, particularly for younger students, the New York Times reported.
Key points of the policy
- Under the new rules roughly 600,000 students, about two-thirds of the city’s public school population, will not be allowed to use AI tools at all until high school; AI use in high school is permitted only in specified circumstances.
- Individual screen use is prohibited through third grade.
- Teachers are forbidden from using AI to grade tests and assignments.
- Conversational chatbots that provide emotional or mental-health support are banned at all grade levels.
- The policy also makes recommendations on screen time: for example, upper elementary students are advised to use screens no more than 45 minutes per day.
Exceptions and permitted uses
The restrictions include several explicit exceptions:
- “Centrally approved educational programs,” such as e-books and programming software, are exempt from the bans.
- Certain tests, assistive tools for students with special educational needs, and supports for learners of English as a second language are also allowed.
- Educators may continue to use AI in their workflow — for instance, to draft lesson plans or translate materials — but it is prohibited to make AI-based decisions about a student’s graduation or to rely on AI for counseling students in crisis.
Political and community reaction
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the tech sector has been pushing the narrative that AI-supported education is not only inevitable but necessary; the city does not share that view. Kamar Samuels, New York City Department of Education chancellor, added that the department will not automatically equate innovation with increased use of technology.
The policy comes amid nationwide parental concern over the spread of digital devices and AI in schools. In recent months parents’ groups across the United States have urged limits on school technology, arguing it harms learning outcomes and encourages cheating. Similar parent groups formed in New York, and a majority of city council members supported temporarily curbing AI use.
Responses from parent organizations
Reactions among parent organizations are mixed. Some welcomed the restrictions, while others expressed disappointment. Kelly Clancy, founder of Parents for AI Caution, said the policy is less strict than it appears because the many exceptions could allow broader AI use in practice.
Why it matters
Because New York City operates the largest public school system in the country, its policy could set a precedent for other districts weighing how to balance the potential benefits of AI in the classroom against concerns about academic integrity, student privacy and mental health. The new rules attempt to define that balance by banning certain uses, permitting specified exceptions, and limiting screen time for younger students.
(This article was prepared with assistance from an AI tool; a journalist edited and verified the final content.)
