New York City: Bans Student Use of Generative AI Through 8th Grade for One Year ? • The policy takes effect in the 2026–2027 school year and will affect nearly 600,000 public school students from 2-K through 8th grade. • All student-facing generative AI software will be barred for those grades, while companion chatbots will be banned across all grades. Exceptions include assistive technology, multilingual learners and certain career-readiness programs. • Teachers may still use AI for instructional planning and operational tasks, while high school students will receive AI critical-thinking modules and limited classroom pilots. 03-SEP-2026 06:04 AM ET