NYC pauses AI for younger students, bets on high‑school AI literacy pilots

New York City will implement a one-year ban on student-facing AI for students in grades 2–8 for the 2026–27 school year, affecting about 600,000 pupils, while launching five high school AI pilots for up to 50,000 students. The policy includes exceptions (assistive technology for certain students, English language learners, coding assignments, and e‑books) and imposes limited screen time on devices. The city will monitor outcomes with a stakeholder coalition to shape future plans, amid a broader national debate over AI in schools and privacy protections.