Artificial Intelligence Ban Up to Middle School in New York City
In line with this decision covering approximately 600,000 students, the use of artificial intelligence for students up to the end of middle school has been paused for one year.
New York City Public Schools has announced a one-year moratorium on student-facing generative artificial intelligence tools for students from 3-K through eighth grade for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Scope and Details of the Implementation
New York City Public Schools, as the nation's largest public school system, has introduced a comprehensive restriction to take effect in the 2026-27 academic year.
This policy affects approximately 600,000 students ranging from kindergarten through eighth grade, representing two-thirds of the district's total student enrollment.
Screen Time Limitations
Alongside the decision to halt artificial intelligence, the city administration is also implementing new screen time recommendations and restrictions for students.
While limited one-to-one screen policies are recommended for students in second grade and below, limits of 30 minutes per day for grades three through five and 45 minutes per day for grades six through eight are being introduced.
Technology Platforms and Exceptions
The district administration plans to disable artificial intelligence components in more than 38 technology platforms previously used by students.
Students with disabilities, multilingual learners, and students participating in career readiness programs such as computer science are exempt from this policy.
High School Pilot Programs
For older students, the district administration is piloting five strictly monitored educational artificial intelligence programs in selected high schools.
Additionally, two 45-minute artificial intelligence literacy modules focusing on bias, risks, and ethics are being incorporated into the high school curriculum.