A New York Focus analysis of roughly 680 school district websites and school board manuals found that more than half of New York school districts lack formal, board-adopted artificial intelligence policies. Around 270 districts have formal policies, most of which support “responsible AI use” to improve instruction. Last month, New York City Public Schools announced a one-year moratorium on student-facing generative AI through eighth grade, a high-profile example of a district policy. Without statewide standards, districts range from banning AI to encouraging its classroom use, while many have no formal policy.

New York Focus contacted roughly 400 districts whose websites showed no formal policy. More than 70 confirmed they had no board policy, and 39 said they planned to develop one during the current school year. Some districts without board-adopted rules use internal guidance for students and teachers, but a board policy establishes an official districtwide rule with greater authority and generally stronger enforceability. In Rockville Centre, a principal described efforts to integrate AI across the district’s schools at a board meeting last spring; elementary students demonstrated an AI chatbot in the persona of Amelia Earhart.

Victor Lee, a professor and faculty lead at Stanford University’s Accelerator for Learning initiative on AI and education, said policies often set broad principles such as academic integrity instead of listing specific uses. That approach reflects how quickly the technology changes, he said, but can leave staff uncertain about which tools or activities count as AI. Since the pandemic, districts have spent millions of dollars on AI-powered tools for administrative tasks, personalized learning and lesson planning. Albany superintendent Joseph Hochreiter described pressure from skeptical parents who want districts to pause AI use and business leaders who say students need AI skills for workforce competitiveness. Albany adopted sample policy language from the New York State School Boards Association encouraging “responsible and effective use of GenAI” in academics and district operations. Hochreiter supports state grade-level standards but opposes a ban, which he said could leave districts further behind.

Several districts said they were waiting for guidance from the New York State Education Department. The department said it is engaging educators, stakeholders and experts and developing statewide guidance for emerging technologies. Bree Dusseault of the Center on Reinventing Public Education said district policies vary nationwide, from brief handbook clauses to standalone documents, and some are too technical for families and teachers. She urged New York to set procurement standards and help districts assess AI vendors. One national report found districts have access to an average of nearly 3,000 tools.

Introduced in August, state Senator Andrew Gounardes’s FOCUS Act would require education technology companies to register with the state attorney general before selling products to districts. Companies would need to show compliance with state and federal education laws, absence of distracting features, and evidence from at least one independent study that products improve student academic performance. Yonkers superintendent Anibal Soler Jr. said statewide standards should preserve local flexibility, adding that banning AI avoids difficult discussions about its role in schools.

A New York Focus analysis of roughly 680 school district websites and school board manuals found that more than half of New York school districts lack formal, board-adopted artificial intelligence policies. Around 270 districts have formal policies, most of which support “responsible AI use” to improve instruction. Last month, New York City Public Schools announced a one-year moratorium on student-facing generative AI through eighth grade, a high-profile example of a district policy. Without statewide standards, districts range from banning AI to encouraging its classroom use, while many have no formal policy.

New York Focus contacted roughly 400 districts whose websites showed no formal policy. More than 70 confirmed they had no board policy, and 39 said they planned to develop one during the current school year. Some districts without board-adopted rules use internal guidance for students and teachers, but a board policy establishes an official districtwide rule with greater authority and generally stronger enforceability. In Rockville Centre, a principal described efforts to integrate AI across the district’s schools at a board meeting last spring; elementary students demonstrated an AI chatbot in the persona of Amelia Earhart.

Victor Lee, a professor and faculty lead at Stanford University’s Accelerator for Learning initiative on AI and education, said policies often set broad principles such as academic integrity instead of listing specific uses. That approach reflects how quickly the technology changes, he said, but can leave staff uncertain about which tools or activities count as AI. Since the pandemic, districts have spent millions of dollars on AI-powered tools for administrative tasks, personalized learning and lesson planning. Albany superintendent Joseph Hochreiter described pressure from skeptical parents who want districts to pause AI use and business leaders who say students need AI skills for workforce competitiveness. Albany adopted sample policy language from the New York State School Boards Association encouraging “responsible and effective use of GenAI” in academics and district operations. Hochreiter supports state grade-level standards but opposes a ban, which he said could leave districts further behind.

Several districts said they were waiting for guidance from the New York State Education Department. The department said it is engaging educators, stakeholders and experts and developing statewide guidance for emerging technologies. Bree Dusseault of the Center on Reinventing Public Education said district policies vary nationwide, from brief handbook clauses to standalone documents, and some are too technical for families and teachers. She urged New York to set procurement standards and help districts assess AI vendors. One national report found districts have access to an average of nearly 3,000 tools.

Introduced in August, state Senator Andrew Gounardes’s FOCUS Act would require education technology companies to register with the state attorney general before selling products to districts. Companies would need to show compliance with state and federal education laws, absence of distracting features, and evidence from at least one independent study that products improve student academic performance. Yonkers superintendent Anibal Soler Jr. said statewide standards should preserve local flexibility, adding that banning AI avoids difficult discussions about its role in schools.