New York City to restrict student AI use through eighth grade

New York City will restrict students from using artificial intelligence in public schools through eighth grade under a one-year policy affecting the largest school district in the United States.

The rules are due to take effect in the week beginning September 7, 2026. AI use will remain available in high school for defined purposes, including learning about the technology itself, while AI companion chatbots offering psychological support will be prohibited.

Teachers may use AI for tasks such as lesson preparation and drafting messages, but they will not be allowed to use it to grade student work. The wider technology policy also calls for classrooms to keep pupils off laptops and tablets through third grade and recommends limits on classroom screen time.

The city is revising its approach after parents and teachers raised concerns about children's cognitive development, mental health and reliance on software for reasoning. Officials have also acknowledged the difficulty of monitoring AI use outside school.

A task force of teachers, elected officials, experts and union representatives is expected to report in April 2027, providing a basis for the city's longer-term policy. New York City's school technology decisions are closely watched because the system serves roughly 900,000 students.