The New York State United Teachers Union ‘Calls For Limits On Screen Time, Student-Facing Artificial Intelligence In Schools’
Publish Date: 2026-06-09 11:17:00
Source Domain: www.wnylabortoday.com
- The New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) announced its commitment to setting developmentally appropriate limits on educational technology usage in New York schools, particularly for younger learners.
- The NYSUT Board of Directors passed a resolution advocating for restrictions on screen time and Artificial Intelligence (AI) use in classrooms, especially for Pre-Kindergarten through second grade students.
- Specific restrictions include no one-to-one screen/device use for students in early grades, except for those with documented special needs; requirement for paper-and-pencil assessments alongside digital options, no student-facing AI for early grade students, and no non-educationally based AI for older students.
- NYSUT emphasizes the necessity of teacher-led supervision and human decision-making over automated systems in AI usage and bans “social companion” chatbots for children under 16.
- NYSUT aims to engage with parents and community partners to guide a statewide and national dialogue on technology’s appropriate role in education.
- NYSUT President Melinda Person stated that educators are not anti-technology but advocate for children’s best interests in education.
- The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten has also called for a “devices-down, eyes-up, hands-on” policy for public education integrating this vision.
- The Surgeon General has highlighted concerns regarding excessive screen time and its effects on children’s health and development.
- Other states have introduced or enacted legislation to limit classroom screen time, and similar efforts, including an initial cellphone ban in New York, are being built on.
