New York City has ordered a one-year suspension on the use of generative AI in public schools from kindergarten through grade 8, along with limits on screen time.
On 3 Sep 2026 GMT+7, New York City officials announced a ban on the use of generative artificial intelligence by public school students from pre-kindergarten 2 through grade 8 for one year. This measure, part of technology use restrictions in the nation’s largest school district, affects nearly 600,000 students—about two-thirds of all students.
Mayor Sohran Mamdani stated that the school district will discontinue or disable AI functions in more than 38 programs previously permitted that fail new safety and oversight standards. He said the policy aims to protect students’ critical thinking skills and maintain teacher-student relationships amid growing concerns that AI and excessive screen time may harm learning and child development, as well as pose safety risks.
High school students will still have access to certain AI tools and will be offered courses on AI-related critical thinking. Chatbots designed for conversational companionship, including popular services like ChatGPT and Claude, will be blocked at all grade levels. Additionally, the school district will limit students’ screen time by grade level, with exceptions for students with disabilities and English language learners. Teachers may use AI for lesson planning and administrative tasks but are strictly prohibited from using AI for grading or evaluating students.