Math Week and Fall 2027 Admissions
Dear Families:
We hope you’re all having an outstanding October!
This month marked the start of our fall 2027
admissions processes for the City’s middle schools
and
high schools
. We know many of you have already been looking through
MySchools
and learning all you can about the many quality school options available to your children next fall. Whether you’re
attending
admissions events
or chatting with other families about your experiences and goals, know that
support is just a click, phone call, or email away.
As we move forward through the rest of the month and into November, we’re enjoying our
schools’ first-ever Math Week
, looking back on the year’s first
Climate Action Day
, and getting ready for our schools'
second round of parent-teacher conferences
.
Let’s take a wider look at what else is happening in and around NYC Public Schools:
- NYC Schools Celebrate ‘Math Week’ (October 19–26)
Join us as we celebrate the fun and joy of anything and everything “math” during
our schools’ first-ever Math Week
! Check out our social media coverage from the past
week, and
see if you and your family can solve each “Problem of the Day!”
- Take a Stand Against Bullying
Did you know that October is National Bullying Prevention Month? Learn how our students are
working to create cultures of kindness
at home, at school, and in their communities, and talk with your family about what it means to be an “upstander!”
- Get Free Pumpkins, Museum Passes, and More This Month
Whether you're looking for details about Governors Island’s free annual pumpkin patch, NYC Parks’ free canoeing
lessons, or the United Nations’ youth leadership program, this month’s
“Opportunities for Students”
highlights a great range of events and programs available for NYCPS students and their families.
October’s Spotlight Video
Stand-up comedian, actor, and writer, Josh Johnson (@joshjohnsoncomedy)
stopped by our booth at New York Comic Con to talk with Joe Schmidt
, our senior instructional specialist within the Department of Social Studies & Civics! Josh and Joe talked about
the incredible graphic texts our Civics for All Comics Group imprint has been publishing and distributing since 2020.
To date, we’ve distributed over six million comic books to our schools—enough to rank us among the largest comic book
distributors in the country!
Important Dates to Remember:
Monday, October 19–Friday, October 23:
Math Week
Friday, October 30:
Last day to
register for the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test
(SHSAT)
Sunday, November 1:
Clocks revert to standard time (set your clocks back an hour)
Monday, November 2:
Last day to
register for Mark Twain I.S. 239 and District 21’s Talent Tests
Tuesday, November 3:
Election Day; students will participate in remote learning for the day
Thursday, November 5:
Parent-Teacher Conferences for Elementary Schools and Pre-K Centers; students in these schools will be dismissed three
hours early
Wednesday, November 11:
Veterans Day; schools closed
Thursday, November 12:
Parent-Teacher Conferences for middle schools and District 75 programs; students in these schools will be dismissed
three hours early
Supporting Student Learning: NYCPS AI and Screen Time Policy for 2026–27
Dear Families:
As we prepare to welcome students back to school on September 10, I am writing to share details on our 2026–2027 artificial intelligence (AI) and screen time policy for NYC Public Schools (NYCPS).
This year, we are putting robust guardrails in place for student-facing AI and screen time, protecting the critical connection, curiosity, and creativity that help children grow. We believe our schools should be places where relationships with teachers and peers are central to learning. AI will never replace our teachers. It can never replicate the care, expertise, and commitment they bring to our schools.
To that end, for the 2026–27 school year, we are implementing a moratorium on student-facing generative AI (a type of AI that creates content in response to a user’s instructions) in grades 2-K through 8. This means that our early childhood, elementary, and middle school students will not be using AI tools as part of their learning.
We know that our older students are entering a world and workplace increasingly shaped by AI, and we need to responsibly prepare them for that world. So, in grades 9 through 12, student-facing AI will be restricted to limited, carefully controlled high school pilots that involve five vetted and approved AI programs. Students can also use AI under teacher supervision if participating in career readiness programs such as Career and Technical Education. Importantly, all high school students will complete AI literacy coursework to understand how AI works.
When it comes to student use of devices, we are also setting developmentally appropriate limits on 1:1 screen time (individual device use by children). Students in grades 2-K through 2 will have no 1:1 screen time. We recommend no more than 30 minutes of daily screen time for grades 3 through 5 and no more than 45 minutes daily for grades 6 through 8.
Across all grades, this policy does not apply to assistive technology and associated screen time provided through a student's Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan, and technology that supports language access per federal and State mandates for English Language Learners (ELLs). Students with disabilities and ELLs will continue to have access to necessary tools that provide important communication support.
Additionally, teachers may continue using NYCPS-approved AI tools for instructional planning and operational work, but AI may never be used for grading, behavior monitoring, or for placement, promotion, graduation, and other decisions about students. For more details and to read the full AI and screen time policy, please visit schools.nyc.gov/AI. This policy will apply for the 2026–27 school year. A Technology in Schools Coalition made up of students, educators, parent leaders, and other partners will help inform our policy for the 2027–28 school year.
Thank you in advance for your partnership. Implementing this policy successfully will require collaboration across the entire NYCPS community, and our students deserve nothing less.
Sincerely,
Kamar H. Samuels
Chancellor