New York City schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels asked principals this week to hold off on purchasing any educational software until the Education Department finalizes its artificial intelligence guidance later this summer. The purchasing freeze is the most concrete step city officials have taken to limit schools' access to AI and educational technology products amid growing pushback over the potential harms for students.
Samuels made the request in a Monday email first tweeted by independent journalist Susan Edelman and obtained by Chalkbeat. Education Department spokesperson Nicole Brownstein said in an email, "This necessary pause is part of our work to ensure proper protocols are in place while supporting our students and staff and making sure that any digital tool used in classrooms is properly assessed for safety and privacy."
Initial guidance missed the mark
The Education Department released its long-awaited initial AI guidance in March, sparking criticism that it did too little to curb AI use. Scores of parents and educators, along with more than half the members of the City Council, signed a push for an AI moratorium in city schools. Samuels admitted in May the city had "missed the mark" and indicated the final version would include stricter rules, especially for younger students.
The growing controversy highlights the challenges of AI for Education in real-world classrooms. Officials originally said the revised version would be released in June, but later told the City Council they were delaying it. The Education Department has not provided an updated timeline.
Software tracking and unanswered questions
At a June hearing, Education Department officials struggled to answer questions about how many schools were using products with AI and which products they were using. Because purchases are largely made at the school level, they are not always tracked - a concern the state comptroller recently flagged as significant. Officials have since sent a survey asking schools which software products they use.
It is not clear how many schools will be affected by the purchasing pause. Samuels noted that software required for "mandated services or school opening needs" would be exempt.
Principals face uncertainty as school year approaches
Several principals said the impact of the purchasing pause could be far-reaching. Many schools rely on software programs for basic functions such as grades and attendance, along with academic support. Even when schools have used software programs for years, they often have to submit new purchase orders every year, making those programs potentially subject to the freeze.
One Manhattan principal, speaking on condition of anonymity, worried about the timing. "We have already built budgets, planned interventions, and made decisions about programs for next year," the principal said. "Changing direction in July makes summer planning significantly more complicated and creates uncertainty about whether schools will have access to the tools they planned to use."
Why this matters for educators
The freeze signals that districts will increasingly scrutinize digital tools, particularly those with AI components, before they reach classrooms. For teachers and school leaders who have already planned curricula around specific software for the fall, the pause creates immediate logistical headaches. The episode is a reminder to verify that any technology planned for the upcoming school year aligns with district-level AI policies - and to build flexibility into lesson plans in case those policies shift.
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