On September 2, 2026, Mamdani, the Mayor of New York City, made an announcement stating that during the 2026 - 2027 academic year, students in New York City's public elementary and middle schools (ranging from pre - kindergarten through 8th grade) will face a complete prohibition on the use of generative AI tools. This ban will impact around 600,000 students, making up two - thirds of the total public school student body in the city. Such a ban is considered one of the most stringent campus AI restriction policies across the United States. In tandem with this ban, there are concurrent regulations regarding screen time management. These rules specify that students in grades 3 - 5 are restricted to using electronic devices for a maximum of 30 minutes per day, while those in grades 6 - 8 are limited to 45 minutes. Moreover, personal screen devices are strictly forbidden for students below the third grade. For high school students, the use of AI tools is permitted, but only in a limited capacity and under the direct supervision of teachers. Additionally, they are required to take AI literacy courses twice a year. There are some exceptions to these rules. AI applications are reserved for students with disabilities, multilingual learners, and those enrolled in career - related courses. Teachers are allowed to use compliant AI tools to aid in lesson preparation; however, they are not permitted to utilize them for grading purposes. During the policy implementation phase, an evaluation consortium will be set up to assess the impact of technological tools on the learning process.