Dear Students, Families, Educators, Leaders, and Community Members,
As the Chancellor of NYC Public Schools (NYCPS), an educator for more than two decades, and an NYCPS parent, I believe our students deserve schools that are safe and academically strong. Today, that also means learning how to use artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly.
For our early learners, elementary, and middle school students, this means developing critical thinking and digital literacy skills. For our high school students, it means preparing for a world where AI is already shaping careers and entire industries. Across all ages, it means partnering with students, educators, leaders, and families to ensure AI is used safely, enhances student learning, and supports, not replaces, educators. AI is here, and our responsibility is to put strong systemwide safeguards in place, use it transparently and responsibly, and in an age-appropriate manner.
To move this work forward, we have released preliminary guidance on how AI can be used in our schools. This guidance aims to set clear expectations to protect our students, support educators, and keep families informed.
Your feedback matters—please share it as we continue this work. This spring, we will build on this guidance with a more comprehensive AI Playbook, shaped by community voices like yours.
Please visit schools.nyc.gov/AI to review the preliminary guidance and complete a short feedback survey. The survey will be open for 45 calendar days through May 8, 2026.
I know AI raises new questions for all of us. As we move forward, we will continue to listen, reflect, and make thoughtful adjustments while always keeping students’ safety and learning at the center.
If you have any questions regarding access to the feedback survey, please review the information available on schools.nyc.gov/AI. Thank you for partnering with us to help our students stay safe, learn, and grow.
In partnership,
Kamar H. Samuels
Chancellor