NYC Schools Tech Freeze

The New York City Education Department has ordered principals to halt software purchases while officials develop new guidelines, following intense backlash to its initial artificial intelligence policy. According to Chalkbeat New York, the city has yet to release a new policy or lift the purchasing freeze, despite the approaching September 10 start of school.

Background

The moratorium on software purchases was announced by Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels in early July, to give the city time to develop a stronger AI policy. An initial set of guidelines released in March ignited fierce pushback from families who said it did not do enough to limit AI, especially for young children. Samuels later acknowledged the policy "missed the mark" and indicated the final guidance would include clearer limits.

Impact on Schools

Principals are increasingly worried they won’t have access to key software programs, including electronic gradebooks and platforms teachers use to communicate with families, for the first day of school. Four public school administrators, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they have been unable to make routine software purchases, even for programs they’ve used for years that do not rely on AI. This uncertainty is causing headaches for school leaders, who often use basic education software tools that require annual purchase orders, similar to those found on our stats page.

Expert Opinion

Some experts said the city has good reasons to be cautious about pressing ahead with education software tools, given concerns around student privacy, data breaches, and the proliferation of AI tools and chatbots added to products that schools have long used. Tom Liam Lynch, an expert who previously worked on education technology for the Education Department, said the city is behind the curve in developing a clear digital learning strategy, which can be compared to other standings in the education sector. He noted that releasing guidance so close to the start of school could upend choices schools have already made about how to support teachers and students, and may require schools to revisit their fixtures and squad plans.

The city's delay in releasing a new policy has left principals unsure about what software they will be allowed to use, with one Brooklyn high school principal saying "Two weeks before the start of school, we’re not sure what we’re going to be allowed to have and not allowed to have." Another administrator was unable to order software programs designed to help students who need more support in reading and math, including i-Ready, a major tech platform, which is also used for required student assessments, and can be found on our injuries page. The Education Department has not responded to questions about when the guidance will be released or when software purchases may resume, leaving school leaders to scramble and find alternative solutions.