New York Will Restrict the Use of AI in Public School Classrooms

Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, New York will restrict the use of generative artificial intelligence in public school classrooms for students from preschool through eighth grade. This policy seeks to limit the impact of AI tools and devices, particularly among younger learners, and promote essential skills like creativity, critical thinking, and face-to-face interaction. The policy applies to approximately 600,000 students in the city's largest public school system.

Students in preschool through eighth grade will be prohibited from using generative AI tools during classes, which includes devices that can produce text, answer questions, or generate content based on user input. Additionally, screen time will be limited: early grade students will not use personal devices for screens before third grade, while third through fifth graders will have a maximum of 30 minutes of screen time daily. Students in sixth through eighth grade will be restricted to 45 minutes of screen time per day.

Teachers will be allowed to utilize AI tools for administrative purposes and lesson planning, but will not be permitted to grade students' assignments with these tools. Exceptions are made for approved educational programs and tools that support students with disabilities or those learning English.

To address the role of AI in education, secondary school students will receive mandatory AI literacy modules twice a year, fostering a critical understanding of these technologies and their implications. This policy comes amid an international conversation on children's and teenagers' access to AI, mobile phones, and digital platforms in educational settings.

Other countries like France, Sweden, Argentina, and Brazil have implemented screen time restrictions in classrooms. Australia has also limited social media access for children under 16. Norway proposed restrictions on generative AI use in primary education, and Colombia advanced guidelines on mobile device use in schools for 2026.

Globally, authorities grapple with finding a balance between the potential benefits of technology and the risks of overuse, striving to prepare students for a digital world while preserving essential skills.