Major City School District Joins Trend Of Blocking AI For Students. It Happened So Quickly, Parents Left Shocked

Interesting artificial intelligence, education, los angeles admin September 5, 2026 0 Comments

Major City School District Joins Trend Of Blocking AI For Students. It Happened So Quickly, Parents Left Shocked

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has banned generative artificial intelligence (AI) for students on district-issued devices in a move that shocked school board members, according to a Sept. 2 report from the Los Angeles Times.

The ban was made public during a recent school board committee meeting focused on AI in schools, according to the Los Angeles Times. Senior district administrators instituted the AI ban following a June 2026 vote to block student access to screens until second grade and to limit their screen time.

School board member Kelly Gonez reacted to the ban.

“I, even as a board member, was under the expectation that we were still operating under last year’s policy,” Gonez told the Los Angeles Times.

“The fact that it’s different today, this school year, is important. Breaking news here in the committee,” she added. The LAUSD had a previous policy where students ages 13 and older could access generative AI after completing digital citizenship instruction and responsible use policy, according to a statement the school district shared with NBC Los Angeles.

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Bridie Lee, a parent and one of the leaders of Schools Beyond Screens L.A., praised the ban.

“This is unlike any public comment I’ve ever made. I’m not going to read my carefully crafted statement … I would like to make it crystal clear to everyone reporting on this today that LAUSD has made history again. That apparently we have an AI moratorium, which we have been advocating for in all grades in LAUSD.”

“Thank you to the team for listening to the evidence, the facts, and perhaps our work here is done,” Lee said. (RELATED: AI Might Have Just Made Hacking A Bank Easier Than Ever, Finance Leader Says)

The LAUSD’s generative AI ban follows a similar measure in New York City.

On Sept. 2, Democrat Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a one-year ban on generative AI in public schools for students below ninth grade, according to ABC 7 NY. The policy, which will take effect during the 2026-2027 school year, impacts almost 600,000 students.

The policy also recommends limiting screen time to 30 minutes a day for students in grades 3-5 and to 45 minutes a day for students in grades 6-8.

In addition, high school students will receive AI-focused lessons twice a year, with a limited number of classrooms participating in AI pilot programs that will be “closely monitored,” according to ABC 7 NY.

A 2026 from the Youth AI Safety Institute at Common Sense Media found that 74 percent of children ages 9-12, 91 percent of teens ages 13-15, and 94 percent of teens ages 16-17 use AI to help with schoolwork or homework.