New York City Restricts Student-Facing Generative AI in Schools

New York City has announced a moratorium on student-facing generative artificial intelligence in schools, together with a new screen time policy. Effective in the 2026-2027 school year, the one-year moratorium covers children from 2-K through 8th grade and will affect nearly 600,000 public school students, roughly two-thirds of the system's enrollment. Companion chatbots will be prohibited across all grades.

The stated purpose is to protect human connection and real instruction. City officials framed the pause as a period to study the impacts of the technology before children come to rely on it, describing children's need for teachers, peers and the experience of working through difficult problems on their own.

The policy is not a blanket removal of AI from every classroom. It introduces twice-yearly AI literacy modules for high school students, covering what AI is and is not, bias, risks, ethical considerations and effects on future skills. A limited set of pilots, involving a maximum of 50,000 high school students in general education classes, will run under the direct supervision of trained educators using vetted tools. Exceptions are granted for assistive technology used by students with disabilities, multilingual learners and students in career readiness programs.

Screen time limits accompany the moratorium:

• Restricted one-to-one screen time for students in 2nd grade and below.
• A recommended cap of 30 minutes a day for students in 3rd through 5th grade.
• A recommended cap of 45 minutes for students in 6th through 8th grade.

A Technology in Schools Coalition of students, educators, parent leaders, elected officials, advocates, union partners and experts will convene during the school year to assess the moratorium and pilots and publish recommendations. The Foundation notes the policy's emphasis on evidence before adoption, and on preserving the developmental work that learning requires of children. This reporting is drawn from the NYC Mayor's Office.