New York City’s public school system is implementing a comprehensive restriction on artificial intelligence use for students in elementary and middle school grades, effective next week following an announcement scheduled for Wednesday. The ban applies to all students through eighth grade, typically ages 13 to 14, and represents a significant shift in the district’s technology policies that affects approximately 900,000 students annually.
The revised approach marks a departure from a framework released in March that permitted student AI use for research, exploration, and creative projects. That earlier policy drew substantial criticism from parents and teachers who viewed it as insufficiently restrictive. Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels acknowledged that district leaders had “missed the mark” in their communications regarding the March framework and committed to carefully reviewing stakeholder feedback.
Under the new rules, artificial intelligence use will only become available to high school students beginning in the ninth grade, with applications limited to specific educational purposes such as studying the technology itself. The restrictions also prohibit the use of AI “companion chatbots” designed to offer psychological support to students. Teachers retain permission to utilize AI for administrative and preparation tasks, including lesson planning and written communications, though they are barred from employing the technology to grade student assignments.
As part of the broader technology overhaul, the district is also eliminating laptop and tablet access for students through third grade. For middle school students, the education department recommends limiting screen time to 45 minutes per class period, while elementary students should be restricted to 30 minutes. Enforcement challenges remain, particularly given that AI use frequently occurs outside school environments.
The city’s education department plans to establish a taskforce comprising teachers, elected officials, subject matter experts, and union representatives. This group is scheduled to deliver a comprehensive report in April that will inform the basis for New York City’s long-term AI-in-schools policy. The new guidelines follow a 2023 ban on ChatGPT that was reversed less than a year later.
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