According to The Verge, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on the 2nd local time that public schools would restrict younger students’ use of AI in the classroom.
The ban will last one year and take effect starting in the 2026-2027 school year, covering approximately 600,000 students from 2-K pre-kindergarten (ages 2 to before school entry) through eighth grade. New York City will also tighten rules on digital device use and conduct small-scale trials of some AI education tools.
Under the New York City Department of Education’s new rules, teachers may not use AI to grade assignments, and students may not use AI in class before entering high school. Chatbots primarily intended for companionship and emotional support will also be banned at all grade levels.
High school students may use AI only in specific circumstances. They will also receive AI literacy education twice a year, learning to think critically about AI before becoming dependent on it.
Mamdani’s statement said: “Children need teachers and human connection to learn and grow. They need to develop skills alongside their peers, build relationships with educators, and face difficult questions on their own. The technology industry wants us to believe that AI-powered early education is not only inevitable but essential. We do not agree.”
In addition, students before third grade will not be allowed to use personal screen devices. The New York City Department of Education will also issue recommendations on screen time, with middle school students limited to 45 minutes per day. Teachers may still use AI to prepare lessons. AI tools that assist students with disabilities and multilingual learners may be used as exceptions, and exemptions may also be granted for specific educational purposes such as computer science courses.
New York City will also conduct a “limited AI pilot” in a small number of high school classrooms, covering no more than 5 classes. Tools used in the pilot must meet safety and data privacy standards while ensuring that students remain the primary thinkers.
Previously, New York City public schools had already introduced a full-day ban on “internet-connected personal electronic devices” starting in the 2025-2026 school year, including smartphones. The head of the New York City school district said the classroom AI ban is one of the strictest policies in the United States.