New York City bans AI tools in public schools through eighth grade

Sep 2, 2026

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a one-year moratorium on generative AI tools for public school students through eighth grade, affecting 600,000 children. The policy, described as the most expansive in the US, aims to protect human connection in classrooms. While high schoolers are exempt and will receive AI literacy training, companion chatbots are banned across all grades. Advocacy groups like the AIM Coalition argue the one-year pause is too short, while the teachers' union questions the enforcement of software safeguards.

NYC AI moratorium through eighth grade

▪Under the 2026 New York City school policy, public school teachers are permitted to use generative AI for lesson planning and administrative tasks, but are barred from using it to grade assignments.
▪New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels announced a one-year moratorium on generative AI tools in public schools for students in 2-K through eighth grade, starting in the 2026-2027 school year.
▪The one-year AI moratorium in New York City public schools affects approximately 600,000 students, representing about two-thirds of the school system's total enrollment.
▪The New York City Department of Education will cut or alter 38 current educational programs from its curriculum due to their use of generative AI under the 2026 policy.
▪The 2026 New York City school policy introduces recommended daily screen time guidelines, suggesting a maximum of 30 minutes for elementary school students and 45 minutes for middle schoolers.

Mayor Mamdani's human connection rationale

▪Mayor Zohran Mamdani challenged the tech industry's assertion that AI-powered early education is inevitable, stating he has seen no independent studies proving its benefits for elementary and middle school students.
▪Mayor Zohran Mamdani justified the 2026 AI moratorium by emphasizing the necessity of human connection, peer interaction, and teacher-student relationships for children's growth and problem-solving development.

High school AI literacy classes

▪High school students in New York City are exempt from the 2026 AI ban and will receive twice-yearly lessons designed to teach critical thinking about artificial intelligence.
▪The New York City Department of Education will launch limited AI pilot programs in a small number of high school classrooms using vetted tools like Quill, Edia, Brisk Teaching, Playlab, and Intel AI-Ready Schools.

Companion chatbot prohibition

▪The 2026 New York City school policy bans individual screen use for public school students through the third grade.
▪The 2026 New York City school policy bans companion chatbots designed for companionship and mental support across all grade levels, including high schools.

Parent groups demand stronger restrictions

▪Advocacy groups, including the AIM Coalition and Parents for AI Caution, criticized the one-year moratorium as too short, having previously campaigned for a two-to-five-year pause on classroom AI.
▪United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew supported the new screen time limits but stated the AI policy leaves unanswered questions regarding how the Department of Education will enforce product safeguards.