Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Wednesday a significant decision regarding the integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) within the nation’s largest public school system. Starting this school year, a one-year moratorium will be enacted for student-facing AI for children in 2-K through eighth grade, while a select group of vetted AI tools will be trialed in high schools.
This announcement arrives just eight days before the school year begins on September 10. The decision follows months of advocacy from parents, educators, and community leaders who urged the administration to slow down the adoption of this technology in early education settings.
Mamdani emphasized the importance of human interaction in learning during a press conference at the Brooklyn Navy Yard STEAM Center. “Children need their teachers and human connection in order to learn and to grow,” he stated. He expressed skepticism about the claims of the tech industry that AI is both necessary and inevitable in elementary education, pointing out a lack of credible research that demonstrates its effectiveness for younger students—especially studies funded by companies profiting from these technologies.
This moratorium is expected to impact approximately 600,000 students, representing about two-thirds of the public school system. Companion chatbots will be strictly prohibited at all grade levels, although there will be exceptions for assistive technologies aimed at students with disabilities, multilingual learners, and those involved in career readiness programs, including computer science.
The new policy also extends to AI already integrated into classroom tools. Mamdani stated that the Education Department would deactivate AI features in nearly 40 educational programs that do not align with their new oversight standards. Senior education adviser Ailish Brady noted that this includes AI components found in curriculum tools like Amira and HMH, which will be turned off where possible or removed altogether if they cannot be disabled.
Brady highlighted that assistive technology could still be incorporated into students' Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) or 504 plans. Technologies such as eye-tracking software for students with severe disabilities and a DOE-approved translation app for multilingual learners will still be allowed under the new restrictions.
Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels articulated that the policy is designed to maintain what he terms the “productive struggle” essential for effective learning. “I don’t want technology to do our students’ thinking for them,” he stated, stressing that elementary and middle school environments should focus on hands-on learning and problem-solving rather than relying on machines.
These new guidelines follow a lengthy review process that began in March when NYC Public Schools released initial AI guidelines for public feedback. Originally, the framework allowed some AI applications under certain safeguards while forbidding their use in critical areas such as grades, assessments, discipline, surveillance, and counseling.
As the summer progressed, growing concerns led a coalition of stakeholders—parents, educators, students, and elected officials—to advocate for a two-year moratorium due to issues like privacy and the preservation of critical thinking. By late August, parents and educators were still seeking clarity on the final policy as the school start date approached.
On September 2, Mamdani noted that the March guidelines were meant to spark discussion and credited Samuels for incorporating input from various community members prior to finalizing the policy.
High schoolers will experience a different protocol under the new guidelines. Five AI programs will undergo a pilot phase under direct teacher supervision, with students limited to a maximum of 45 minutes of use weekly. Notably, these pilots will exclude general-purpose chatbots like ChatGPT or Claude.
Samuels mentioned that all high school students will need to complete two sessions of 45-minute AI literacy modules during the school year, with additional in-depth instruction for those in pilot programs or career courses.
Alongside these measures, screen time for younger students is being capped, with no individual device use permitted for those through second grade, and daily limits set at 30 minutes for grades three to five and 45 minutes for grades six to eight.
Not all advocates for stricter regulations are fully satisfied. State Senator Kristen Gonzalez and Council Member Carmen De La Rosa described the policy as a positive step but suggested that it still "falls short" of necessary measures to address current concerns. They welcomed the moratorium for younger students but called for delaying the five high school pilots until clearer evaluation criteria are established. They also argued for a broader curriculum in digital literacy and online safety education.
The AI Moratorium Coalition, which had pushed for a two-year pause, expressed mixed feelings, applauding the new restrictions while asserting that there's more work to be done. Craig Garrett from D14 Families for Human Learning remarked, “We’re thrilled that our organizing has produced significant restrictions on the use of AI in NYC schools, but we have a lot more work to do."
Looking to the future, Mamdani indicated that the outcomes from this school year might necessitate an extension or adjustment of the moratorium, stating that if the evidence suggests the policy should be continued, they would consider doing so.
