As NYC Public Schools runs five artificial intelligence (AI) pilot programs in public high schools this school year, a rally demanding that they be stopped was held in front of Long Island City High School on the evening of Wednesday, the 28th. Participants delivered a petition signed by more than 1,000 people to a meeting of the Panel for Educational Policy the same day. The city education department says protecting younger students is the priority and that the high school pilots will continue.
According to PIX11, parents and students gathered Wednesday evening in front of Long Island City High School in Queens to demand an end to artificial intelligence (AI) pilot programs in New York City public high schools. NYC Public Schools launched five AI pilot programs in public high schools this school year.
The rally followed a decision by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels to ban students in grades 2K through 8 from directly using generative AI during the 2026-2027 school year. Juno Hayes, 17, a student, said the ban does not go far enough. Her point was that if high school students use AI tools to get feedback or check assignments, an important part of learning to write is lost. Liat Olenick of the climate group Climate Families NYC argued that the risks to student privacy, learning and the environment are as great for high school students as for elementary and middle school students.
Participants delivered a petition signed by more than 1,000 people to the Panel for Educational Policy meeting held Wednesday. State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez also joined them. Gonzalez said the high school pilot programs need "the same safeguards and regulations" as other chatbots and generative AI tools.
In a statement, NYC Public Schools said that protecting younger students is the priority, which is why it has paused AI use in grades 2K through 8. For high school students, it said, the pilot programs and AI literacy coursework will introduce AI in a limited, responsible and developmentally appropriate way. During this school year, a coalition of students, teachers and parents will assess the impact of the AI ban and the pilot programs, and will then issue a report with recommendations.
Here is what parents should know. The ban applies to direct use of generative AI by students in grades 2K through 8, while five pilot programs are running in high schools. However, PIX11's report does not list the schools running the pilots or give details on how they operate. Parents should check with their child's school or the Department of Education to find out whether it is participating.