New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels unveiled a new policy for the city’s schools today that bans the use of AI by elementary and middle school students as part of a one-year moratorium
The policy also places strict limits on screen time for students’ personal learning devices through eighth grade. The announcement comes ahead of New York City students returning to school on September 10.
Under the new policy, students are prohibited from using generative AI tools, chatbots and AI tutors through eighth grade. High school students will be allowed to use the technology, but only as part of five pilot programs under strict teacher supervision.
Additionally, new screen time limit recommendations will restrict students’ access to personal learning devices in class, depending on their grade. Students in preschool through second grade are limited to 1:1 screen time, while students in grades 3 through 5 will be limited to 30 minutes per day. Middle school students are limited to 45 minutes per day.
“Beginning this school year, we will implement a one-year moratorium on generative AI for students in 2K through eighth grade,” Mayor Mamdani said in a press conference announcing the policy.
“In high school, we will teach our students about AI, its opportunities and its pitfalls; its building blocks and its biases. And we will pilot five rigorously vetted educational AI programs that teachers will vouch for.
But I want to be very clear: In no way, shape or form will AI replace student-teacher interaction. It is the foundation of our students’ educational experience. That will not change.”
Additionally, Mayor Mamdani said the city will “fully discontinue or disable” AI components of more than 38 previously allowed programs that “do not meet our new safety and oversight standards.”
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