NYC Public Schools Pause New Technology Purchases Pending AI Policy
New York City Public Schools has instructed school principals to temporarily suspend new educational technology purchases as officials finalize a long-awaited artificial intelligence (AI) policy following widespread opposition from parents, teachers and elected officials.
Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels announced the pause in an email to principals, saying schools should delay purchasing educational software until updated guidance is issued later this summer.
“We are advising you today to pause educational software purchases until we share updated guidance,” Samuels wrote, noting that the forthcoming policy could affect schools’ technology investment decisions.
The original AI policy, released in March, allowed teachers to use AI to help prepare lesson plans but prohibited its use in grading and student discipline. However, critics argued that the proposal failed to adequately address student use of AI, academic integrity and safeguards to protect critical thinking skills.
The draft policy sparked strong public backlash, with parents organizing protests, educators voicing concerns and an online petition calling for a two-year moratorium on AI in schools attracting thousands of signatures. Several members of the New York City Council also urged education officials to halt implementation until stronger protections were developed.
According to education officials, the revised policy will include clearer guidance on age-appropriate AI use, stronger privacy and safety standards, and a more comprehensive review process for AI-powered educational tools. The Department of Education has also surveyed principals to better understand how AI technologies are currently being used in schools and is developing an evaluation system for teacher-facing AI products.
Samuels said all future software purchases will undergo closer review by central education officials, warning that some requests could be delayed or denied.
“We know that we must prepare our children to thrive in a world increasingly shaped by new technology,” he wrote. “We also recognize the need to consistently provide a safe, developmentally appropriate system with robust transparency and oversight.”
Meanwhile, the city’s Panel for Educational Policy recently established a task force dedicated to technology and artificial intelligence to help guide future policy decisions.
Education advocates welcomed the temporary pause, saying it provides officials with an opportunity to establish stronger safeguards before expanding AI use in classrooms.
A spokesperson for New York City Public Schools confirmed that development of the AI policy remains underway and said the temporary suspension is intended to ensure that all digital tools used in classrooms meet appropriate standards for safety, privacy and educational effectiveness before they are approved for use.
