The New York City Department of Education released AI guidance for schools using a traffic-light model (red, green, yellow) to categorize acceptable uses for teachers and students.

Chancellor Kamar Samuels announced the guidance at a City Council hearing, with a 45-day public feedback window after release before the final AI playbook is issued.

Yellow category allows cautious use for tasks like handling student data, critical communications, translating or adapting instructional material, and supporting research and creative work, provided human judgment remains central.

The guidance was developed by NYC’s AI Task Force, Policy Data Privacy Working Group, and AI Advisory Council, reflecting input from industry and academia.

The policy seeks to balance AI’s learning benefits with strong student data protections and a commitment to teach responsible AI use.

A 45-day community feedback period runs through May 8, inviting input from families, educators, and school leaders via an online form and upcoming webinars.

Officials stress the goal of empowering educators with safeguards, preserving the teacher-student relationship, and focusing on developing students’ critical thinking.

Approved uses include brainstorming, organizing ideas, scheduling, and drafting non-sensitive communications, while the guidance emphasizes that AI cannot replace teachers and must be supervised for bias and accuracy.

Red category prohibits AI in decisions about students, IEP/504 planning, assessments, grading, counseling, and surveillance; safety and academic integrity concerns drive these restrictions.

A broader AI playbook is expected to be released in June, along with a public list of approved AI tools for classrooms amid discussions of possible moratoriums in some communities.

Schools are required to undergo a 10-step data privacy review before adopting any AI tool, with ongoing monitoring for bias and hallucinations, and ensuring human oversight.

In parallel, Brooklyn advances youth infrastructure with the MADE x HMBL basketball training center opening in Fort Greene, backed by a $3 million investment.