Author Archive

Alex Zimmerman

Artificial Intelligence

NYC’s AI ban confusion: what’s allowed and what’s banned in city schools

Chalkbeat obtained the list of products NYC officials say violate the city's new school AI policy. It includes a chatbot the Education Department developed itself.

By Alex Zimmerman and Michael Elsen-Rooney, Chalkbeat
October 26, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

NYC’s new school AI ban explained: What’s changing? What’s still murky?

NYC public schools will ban student-facing generative AI through eighth grade and cap screen time, Mayor Mamdani announced. But key details — including the specific tools affected — remain unclear days before school starts.

By Michael Elsen-Rooney and Alex Zimmerman, Chalkbeat
September 3, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

New York City delays school AI guidance after backlash

Education Department officials said during a recent City Council hearing that they are delaying a final policy on artificial intelligence in schools.

By Alex Zimmerman, Chalkbeat
June 25, 2026

Your daily read on state and local government

Digital Government

Financial watchdog urges NYC schools to withdraw $1.9 million proposal for AI reading tutor

“Before we spend millions on an AI program that could shape our kindergartners’ reading abilities, let’s make sure we’re doing this right,” Comptroller Brad Lander said.

By Alex Zimmerman, Chalkbeat
December 18, 2024

Digital Government

To meet class size mandate, officials look to virtual learning

To meet a new state mandate capping K-12 class sizes, New York City is considering offering remote instruction, a practice that could free up building space and allow students to take electives and AP classes from teachers on other campuses.

By Alex Zimmerman, Chalkbeat
May 15, 2024

Your daily read on state and local government

Almost There! Help us tailor content specifically for you:

Full Name

Agency/Department

Organization Function

Organization Name

Job Function

Phone number

Zip code

Country

Country Name

Yes, Route Fifty can email me on behalf of carefully selected companies and organizations.

I agree to the use of my personal data by Government Executive Media Group and its partners to serve me targeted ads. Learn more.

This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. Learn More / Do Not Sell My Personal Information

Accept Cookies

Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference. You cannot opt-out of our First Party Strictly Necessary Cookies as they are deployed in order to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting the cookie banner and remembering your settings, to log into your account, to redirect you when you log out, etc.). For more information about the First and Third Party Cookies used please follow this link.

Allow All Cookies

Manage Consent Preferences

Strictly Necessary Cookies - Always Active

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data, Targeting & Social Media Cookies

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act, you have the right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information to third parties. These cookies collect information for analytics and to personalize your experience with targeted ads. You may exercise your right to opt out of the sale of personal information by using this toggle switch. If you opt out we will not be able to offer you personalised ads and will not hand over your personal information to any third parties. Additionally, you may contact our legal department for further clarification about your rights as a California consumer by using this Exercise My Rights link

If you have enabled privacy controls on your browser (such as a plugin), we have to take that as a valid request to opt-out. Therefore we would not be able to track your activity through the web. This may affect our ability to personalize ads according to your preferences.

Targeting cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.

Social media cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.

If you want to opt out of all of our lead reports and lists, please submit a privacy request at our Do Not Sell page.

Save Settings

Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Cookie List

A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website – when visited by a user – asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies – which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting – for our advertising and marketing efforts. More specifically, we use cookies and other tracking technologies for the following purposes:

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Functional Cookies

Performance Cookies

Sale of Personal Data

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Social Media Cookies

Targeting Cookies