two-year moratorium on AI in public schools.<\/a><\/p>\nHe told amNewYork that the DOE needs to do more to develop a thoughtful AI policy, like consulting with parents and teachers across the city. Until then, he said that allowing the use of AI in schools to continue without guardrails will be harmful to students and disruptive to learning environments.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u200aIt\u2019s going to be a lot harder basically to change once the school year is underway and all the kids are in seats and the teachers are in the classrooms,\u201d Garrett said. \u201cIt\u2019s really not great.\u201d<\/p>\n
amNewYork reached out to the DOE for comment on the story, and is awaiting a response.\n<\/p>\n
As it stands, the DOE\u2019s preliminary AI guidelines use a \u201ctraffic-light\u201d approach. \u201cRed light\u201d cases are instances when the technology should not be used. The DOE committed to never using AI to make decisions about grades, discipline, counseling or surveillance and prohibits student data from being sold or used in training AI models.<\/p>\n
\u201cYellow light\u201d scenarios require caution and adult oversight, according to the DOE\u2019s preliminary guidance. These scenarios include educators drafting critical correspondence, translations which are then checked by a human and student use of AI for \u201cfor research, exploration, and creative projects.\u201d<\/p>\n
The DOE has given the initial \u201cgreen light\u201d to the use of AI for non-critical communications, helping with lesson planning, data synthesis, and summarizing non-sensitive information.\n<\/p>\n
After its release, DOE officials said that they were gaining a better understanding of the evolving national conversation over AI in schools and vowed to carefully consider the more than 6,000 comments on the initial guidance before \u201cracing into a playbook.\u201d<\/p>\n
But with weeks left until more than 1 million K-12 students return to NYC public schools, the department is running out of time to issue a comprehensive plan or partner with City Hall to institute a moratorium.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels indicated in an email to principals that guidance was forthcoming later in the summer, asking them to hold off purchasing education tech until then, according to advocates.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hitting the pause button on AI in schools has the support of thousands of parents online and hundreds of education organizations and experts. In June, 29 city council members signed a letter calling on Chancellor Samuels and Mayor Zohran Mamdani to institute a moratorium.<\/p>\n
Council Members grilled DOE officials later that month in a joint city council oversight hearing with the Committee on Education and the Committee on Technology. Council members repeatedly questioned DOE officials, asking when updated guidance on AI in classrooms or a \u201cplaybook\u201d would be released, but the agency would not give a firm timeline.<\/p>\n
Council Member Virginia Maloney (D-Manhattan), a former tech executive, urged expediency in developing DOE\u2019s guidelines, noting the speed at which the AI industry evolves. She asked DOE First Deputy Chancellor Danielle Giunta how the agency planned on addressing concerns over AI accuracy,\u00a0 preserving critical thinking and risks to student privacy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat changes are expected and when will we get that revised framework?\u201d Maloney asked.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are working furiously through that,\u201d Giunta said. \u201cI cannot commit to a date, but we will be offering clarity on those exact items.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Garret told amNewYork that the entire process hadn\u2019t prioritized parents\u2019 and educators voices when developing the technology\u2019s guidelines.\n<\/p>\n
\u201c\u200aWe used every opportunity to express our disappointment with it and our anger at the fact that parents and teachers were largely left out of the process creating the guidance,\u201d Garrett said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve heard nothing since then,\u201d he finished. \u201cThey haven\u2019t released the results of the survey. They haven\u2019t released anything about the conclusions that they drew from it.\u201d<\/p>\n
City Council Member Eric Dinowitz (D-Bronx), who chairs the Education Committee, said he met this week with Chancellor Samuels and DOE leadership to discuss the AI policy. While he believes progress is being made in refining the DOE\u2019s AI policy, he nonetheless supports a moratorium on AI use.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe the best plans are ones that are fully thought through, and while the school year is fast approaching, I am confident the department is working toward clear guidance for schools,\u201d Dinowitz said. \u201cAs Chair of the Education Committee, I have pushed for a temporary AI moratorium, especially for our youngest students, and to hold our vendors accountable. I appreciate the department\u2019s continued collaboration as we get this right for students and teachers.\u201d<\/p>\n
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