New York City and Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation's two largest school systems, announced new restrictions on student AI use ahead of the 2026-27 school year. On Wednesday, NYC Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels banned student-facing AI in all K-8 classes while allowing limited approved tools for high schoolers. This policy is stricter than March's proposed "stoplight" system, which was paused after backlash. Later that day, LAUSD imposed a one-year moratorium on generative AI for its estimated 378,000 students, surprising even district officials.

The moves reverse earlier trends. NYC initially blocked ChatGPT in January 2023, followed by LAUSD in December 2022, but both districts had moved toward permissive policies by mid-2023. The new restrictions follow advocacy from groups like the NYC AI Moratorium (AIM) Coalition and Schools Beyond Screens in LA. Sandra Martinez Roe of Schools Beyond Screens thanked LAUSD for "setting an example." NYC teacher Kyle De Angelis called the partial pause a "step in the right direction," though the AIM Coalition still seeks a complete moratorium, citing concerns over AI pilots and staff AI use.