New York Public Schools Ban Generative AI and Cap Screen Time for Younger Students

New York public schools have banned the use of generative artificial intelligence for elementary and middle school students and imposed strict daily limits on device screen time, according to new district rules.

Under the updated guidelines, students in grades 3 through 5 are permitted a maximum of 30 minutes per day on electronic devices, while students in grades 6 through 8 are limited to 45 minutes. The restrictions apply to in-school gadget use and are designed to reduce screen exposure for younger learners during the school day.

For high school students, access to generative AI and related technologies will continue only through structured pilot projects. The tiered approach suggests officials intend to allow carefully monitored experimentation at older grade levels while keeping the tools out of classrooms serving elementary and middle school children.

The policy marks one of the more restrictive U.S. public school responses to the rapid spread of AI tools and growing concerns about the effects of prolonged screen time on children. By separating rules by age group, the district aims to balance digital literacy with safeguards for developmental health and classroom focus.