New York City Public Schools has introduced a major new policy governing how students can use generative artificial intelligence during the 2026–27 school year.
The policy establishes a one-year moratorium on student-facing generative AI for students from 2-K through eighth grade, while allowing limited, teacher-supervised use of approved AI programs in high schools.
The rules also introduce new screen-time recommendations, mandatory AI literacy instruction for high school students and additional restrictions on AI-enabled software used throughout the school system.
Key Facts
- Student-facing generative AI is prohibited for grades 2-K through 8.
- High school students may use only approved and vetted AI programs in limited circumstances.
- Companion AI chatbots are prohibited across all grades.
- All high school students will receive AI literacy instruction twice during the school year.
- Five limited high-school AI pilot programs will be tested.
- Teachers may continue using approved AI tools for instructional planning and operational tasks.
- Exceptions remain for assistive technology, multilingual learners and certain career-readiness programs.
What Is Actually Banned?
The new policy does not ban every technology product that uses artificial intelligence.
NYC Public Schools specifically distinguishes between artificial intelligence generally and student-facing generative AI.
Generative AI refers to systems that can create new text, images, audio or other content in response to instructions from a user.
For the 2026–27 school year, students from 2-K through eighth grade are not permitted to use student-facing generative AI in school.
High School Students Have Different Rules
The policy takes a different approach for grades 9 through 12.
High school students may use approved, vetted generative AI programs in limited and supervised circumstances.
City officials say the initial program will include five controlled AI pilots available to a maximum of approximately 50,000 high school students in general education classes.
The pilots will be limited to no more than five classes per high school and must operate under direct supervision of trained educators.
Which AI Programs Are Being Piloted?
According to the Mayor’s Office, the five initial programs are:
- Quill — designed to support close reading, text analysis and evidence-based writing;
- Edia — designed to provide step-by-step math coaching and encourage students to explain their reasoning;
- Brisk Teaching / Brisk Boost — teacher-created guided activities using selected texts or videos;
- Playlab — assignment-specific AI applications that can be used to examine AI outputs, bias and reasoning;
- Intel AI-Ready Schools — projects in which students identify community problems and develop AI-related solutions.
This Is Not an Open ChatGPT Program
During the September 2 announcement, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the controlled high-school pilots are not introducing open-ended consumer chatbots such as ChatGPT or Claude into the curriculum.
The city says the pilot tools were selected according to safety, privacy and instructional standards and will operate under teacher supervision.
Companion Chatbots Are Prohibited
The city’s policy also prohibits companion AI chatbots across all grades.
This restriction is broader than the 2-K through eighth-grade moratorium because it applies to students throughout the public school system.
Every High School Student Gets AI Literacy Instruction
New York City is not attempting to keep high school students entirely away from artificial intelligence.
Instead, every high school student will receive AI literacy instruction designed to help students understand the technology and evaluate it critically.
The program consists of two 45-minute modules during the school year.
The curriculum is expected to address:
- what AI is and is not;
- AI-generated misinformation;
- bias;
- privacy and safety;
- ethical considerations;
- overreliance on automated systems;
- the impact of AI on future careers and skills.
Students in Career Programs Can Have Additional Access
The policy provides exceptions for students participating in certain Career and Technical Education and professional learning programs.
The reasoning is that AI tools are increasingly being used in professional environments, including technology, computer science and other career fields.
Approved use must still occur under school supervision and within the city’s technology and privacy requirements.
Teachers Can Still Use AI
The policy does not prohibit teachers from using AI.
NYC Public Schools says educators may continue to use approved AI tools for instructional planning and operational tasks as long as the products meet school-system safety and privacy standards.
This creates an important distinction between student-facing AI and AI tools used by educators behind the scenes.
More Than 38 Existing AI Functions Are Being Disabled
During the September 2 announcement, city officials said the school system would discontinue or disable AI functionality in more than 38 previously allowed programs that do not meet the new safety and oversight standards.
This indicates that the policy applies not only to dedicated AI chatbots but also to AI features increasingly embedded inside conventional education software.
New Screen-Time Rules
The AI restrictions are part of a broader policy governing individual student screen time.
NYC Public Schools lists the following guidance for 2026–27:
- 2-K through Grade 2: no routine one-to-one screen time;
- Grades 3–5: recommended maximum of 30 minutes of daily individual screen time;
- Grades 6–8: recommended maximum of 45 minutes of daily individual screen time;
- Grades 9–12: screen-time rules depend on the school and course.
There Are Important Exceptions
The screen-time and AI restrictions are not absolute.
NYC Public Schools says assistive technology provided through an Individualized Education Program or Section 504 Plan is exempt.
Students with disabilities and English Language Learners will continue to have access to necessary technology.
Other exceptions can include:
- assessments and diagnostic tools;
- remote instruction;
- approved e-books;
- robotics;
- coding;
- simulations;
- career-readiness programs.
Why the Policy Is Temporary
The 2-K through eighth-grade moratorium is scheduled to last for one school year.
During 2026–27, a new Technology in Schools Coalition made up of students, educators, parents, elected officials, advocates, union representatives and experts will evaluate the effects of the policy and the limited high-school pilots.
The coalition is expected to publish recommendations for future school years.
What the Policy Does Not Establish
The announcement establishes rules for the current school year, but it does not yet establish whether restricting generative AI will improve academic outcomes.
Several questions remain open:
- Will students simply move their AI use outside school?
- How consistently can thousands of schools enforce the restrictions?
- Will limited supervised AI use improve learning in high school?
- How will the city measure academic impact?
- Which AI tools will ultimately satisfy NYC Public Schools privacy and safety requirements?
- Will the moratorium continue after the 2026–27 school year?
Why This Matters Beyond New York City
New York City operates the largest public school system in the United States.
That makes the policy a significant real-world test of two competing approaches to artificial intelligence in education: restricting generative AI for younger children while teaching older students how to use and evaluate the technology under controlled conditions.
The results of the one-year experiment could therefore influence how other school systems approach generative AI.
Bottom Line
New York City has not banned artificial intelligence from public education.
Instead, NYC Public Schools has created an age-based system.
Student-facing generative AI is prohibited through eighth grade for the 2026–27 school year, while high school students receive limited access to vetted tools, mandatory AI literacy instruction and selected career-related exceptions.
The city will study the results during the school year before determining what comes next.
Official Sources
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NYC Public Schools — Guidance on Artificial Intelligence and Screen Time
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NYC Mayor’s Office — September 2, 2026 Generative AI Moratorium Announcement
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NYC Mayor’s Office — September 2, 2026 Education Announcement Transcript
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