Nation’s largest school district bans AI in the classroom through 8th grade

New York City is banning the use of generative artificial intelligence for public school students from 2K through 8th grade, part of a larger move to restrict classroom technology in the nation’s largest school district. The one-year moratorium will affect nearly 600,000 public school students, nearly two-thirds of the district’s total enrollment. As part of the policy rollout, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the district will “discontinue or disable the AI components of more than 38 previously allowed programs that do not meet our new safety and oversight standards.” Mamdani announced the policy on Wednesday with New York City Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels, saying it’s designed to protect students’ critical thinking abilities as well as the relationships between students and teachers. Many communities across the country have pushed for stricter limits on screentime and AI use, amid growing fears that the technology could stunt students’ learning and development or pose safety risks. Meanwhile, AI companies have rolled out tools for learning and education, and provided funding to teachers’ unions to help develop AI training curricula. The Los Angeles Unified School District this year announced major restrictions on classroom screen use, and New York state last year banned students from using personal phones during the school day. But Mamdani’s office called Wednesday’s announcement the country’s “most expansive” limits around AI use in schools. In New York City, the education department banned the use of ChatGPT from school devices and networks in 2023, before reversing course months later. Under the policy announced Wednesday, a new Technology in Schools Coalition of educators, parents, students and others will evaluate the impacts of the moratorium and make recommendations for future school years. New York City high school students will have access to a limited slate of AI tools and receive “AI critical thinking” courses. Companion chatbots, as well as mainstream services such as ChatGPT and Claude, will be blocked for all grades. The district will also limit individual screen time for students based on grade level. The policy includes exceptions for students with disabilities and English learners. Teachers will be allowed to use AI for lesson planning and other “operational tasks,” but not for grading or student assessments. Michael Mulgrew, president of the New York-based United Federation of Teachers, lauded the screentime limits and carve-outs for students with special needs in a statement Wednesday. But he questioned how the education department will evaluate learning tools’ AI safeguards going forward, saying schools or educators could be left uncertain about which products are approved for use. Samuels on Wednesday acknowledged the challenge of preventing students from using AI at home, for example, to help complete homework. He said the policy “seeks to expand our teachers’ and our understanding of how to combat the external use of AI,” but also called on parents to help monitor their kids’ tech use at home. Still, Mamdani said he believes the policy will benefit students and educators. “The tech industry wants us to believe that AI in early education is not only inevitable, but that it is necessary,” Mamdani said during Wednesday’s press conference. “We do not see it that way.” CNN’s Katherine Koretski contributed to this report.