Michael MulgrewZohran MamdaniUnited Federation of TeachersNew York City Department of Education

NYC schools ban AI for students through eighth grade under new Mamdani policy; moratorium affects nearly 600,000 students starting 2026-27

New York City schools will ban student use of generative AI for grades 2-K through eighth under a new policy by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, affecting nearly 600,000 students starting in the 2026-27 school year. The initiative aims to prioritize human connection and limit screen time for younger students.

ABC7 New York ABC7 New York3 September 2026 · 06:03 UTC
CuriousCats Full Story

New York City public schools will implement a ban on generative AI for students in grades 2-K through eighth, starting in the 2026-27 school year. This policy, announced by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, will impact nearly 600,000 students, or about two-thirds of the city's public school enrollment.2

Mamdani stated, "This moratorium is a commitment to getting the future right," emphasizing the need to embrace technology only when it benefits students. The ban prohibits student-facing AI tools and chatbots for younger grades while a coalition of educators and experts evaluates the technology's impact.

High school classrooms will have limited participation in monitored AI pilot programs, and all high school students will receive twice-yearly lessons on AI literacy, bias, ethics, and critical thinking. Teachers, however, can still use AI for lesson planning and administrative tasks that comply with city safety standards.4

The policy also introduces new screen time guidelines, including restrictions on device use for younger students and recommended daily caps of 30 minutes for grades 3-5 and 45 minutes for grades 6-8. Mamdani argued that the move is essential to protect "human connection" in classrooms, asserting that children should develop problem-solving and social skills alongside teachers and peers rather than relying on AI tools.56

Key Insight
“The moratorium, effective in the 2026-27 school year, will affect nearly 600,000 students, roughly two-thirds of the city's public school enrollment. Mamdani said, "This moratorium is a commitment to getting the future right," while new screen time guidelines cap daily device use at 30 minutes for grades 3-5 and 45 minutes for grades 6-8.”
CuriousCats studied:
1
ABC7 New YorkABC7 New York
“Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other city officials announced a sweeping new policy Wednesday imposing a one-year ban on student use of generative artificial intelligence in New York City public schools from 2-K through eighth grade, while limiting screen time for younger students and launching AI literacy lessons for high schoolers.”
ABC7 New York →
Ask CuriousCats
Who implemented the AI ban in NYC schools?
What age group does the new policy affect?
Why is there a moratorium on AI use?
Are there other cities considering similar policies?
How does this policy compare to other states' regulations?
CuriousCats STORYARC
EARLIER IN THE STORY:
CP24CP24
New York bans AI use for students until high school; mayor says 'children need teachers and human connection' as one-year restriction hits 600,000 pupils

New York is banning student use of artificial intelligence until high school, a move designed to protect children’s education and mental health.

Ai Education BanAi In SchoolsAi Literacy Classes
2026-09-02
TL;DR by CuriousCats.ai
  • New York is banning student use of artificial intelligence until high school, the city’s mayor announced Wednesday, in a move designed to protect children’s education and mental health.
  • The one-year restriction, which impacts nearly 600,000 public school pupils through eighth grade, will be closely watched across the United States as the city’s school board is by far the largest in the country.
  • Only high school students -- typically aged 14 and above -- will be permitted to use artificial intelligence in limited pilot programs, and they will be offered biannual AI literacy classes.
  • Companion chatbots, designed specifically for emotional support, will be banned across all grades.
  • Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated, “Children need teachers and human connection in order to learn and grow. They need to develop skills alongside their peers, build relationships with educators and wrestle with tough problems on their own.”
  • The new rules follow an initial framework published in March that allowed students to use AI for research, exploration, and creative projects, sparking fury among many parents and teachers who considered it too lenient.
Get your CIA-level briefing,
in real time.
CuriousCats monitors the internet every minute for you and brings you the most personalized brief of videos, social media posts, news and more.
Download the App
If you liked this, you’ll love your CuriousCats brief.
News, videos, opinions and more — without the noise.
Get CuriousCats