New York City pauses AI use for elementary, middle school students

Photo: Mayor Zohran Mamdani – January 5, 2026. Photo credit: “Congestion Relief One-Year Anniversary” by Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Marc A. Hermann / MTA) via Flickr. CC BY 4.0 (no modifications). Article by Anna Merod. K-12 Dive – September 2, 2026.

New York City announced Wednesday that it is implementing the nation’s “most expansive” artificial intelligence moratorium for students in the nation’s largest public school system. The one-year moratorium prohibits student-facing AI tools for New York City Public Schools students in 2-K, a preschool program for 2-year-olds, through 8th grade during the 2026-27 school year. The temporary AI ban will reach 600,000 students — or two-thirds of NYC’s public school enrollment. Additionally, the system said it will set restricted 1:1 screen time policies for students in 2nd grade and lower. Screen limits will also extend to students in 3rd through 5th grade with recommended caps of 30 minutes per day, as well as 45-minute daily caps for students in grades 6-8. […]

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