New York State Education Department

A Message from Commissioner Rosa

"New York State has always been at the forefront of educational innovation. As we embrace artificial intelligence in our schools, we must ensure that every one of our 2.6 million students—from Manhattan to Massena, from Buffalo to Montauk—has equitable access to these transformative tools while maintaining the highest standards of privacy, safety, and educational excellence. This framework represents our commitment to preparing New York's students not just to adapt to an AI-driven world, but to lead it."

— Commissioner Betty A. Rosa

Executive Overview

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) presents this comprehensive framework to guide the state's 700+ school districts in implementing artificial intelligence technologies. Built upon New York's tradition of educational excellence and our commitment to equity, this framework addresses the unique needs of our diverse communities while maintaining rigorous academic standards.

Four Pillars of New York's AI Framework

PILLAR 1

Educational Excellence & Innovation

Objective: Leverage AI to enhance learning outcomes while preserving New York's high academic standards.

Alignment with Next Generation Learning Standards: All AI tools must support NGLS objectives
Regents Exam Preparation: AI use in test prep must maintain academic integrity
Advanced Placement Support: Approved AI tools for AP course enhancement
STEM/STEAM Integration: Priority on AI in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics

Key Metric: 85% of districts showing improved outcomes within 2 years of AI adoption

PILLAR 2

Equity & Access for All Students

Objective: Ensure equitable AI access across urban, suburban, and rural districts.

Digital Equity Grants: $250M allocated for device and connectivity support
Multilingual Support: AI tools must support NYS's top 10 languages
Special Education: AI accommodations aligned with IEP/504 requirements
Rural District Support: BOCES partnerships for shared AI resources

Key Metric: 100% of students have AI access regardless of ZIP code by 2026

PILLAR 3

Privacy, Security & Digital Citizenship

Objective: Protect student data while fostering responsible AI use.

Ed Law 2-d Compliance: Strict adherence to NYS student data privacy law
Parent Bill of Rights: Transparent communication about AI data use
Cybersecurity Standards: NIST framework implementation required
Digital Citizenship Curriculum: Mandatory AI ethics education

Key Metric: Zero tolerance for unauthorized data sharing

PILLAR 4

Professional Learning & Support

Objective: Empower educators with AI knowledge and skills.

CTLE Credit Opportunities: AI-focused professional development counts toward continuing education
Teacher Preparation Programs: SUNY/CUNY integration of AI in education curricula
Regional Support Networks: BOCES-led communities of practice
Educator Certification: New micro-credentials for AI integration

Key Metric: 100% of educators receive AI training by end of 2025

📋 Board of Regents Requirements

The Board of Regents mandates that all New York State school districts:

Develop AI Policies by June 30, 2025: Comprehensive policies addressing acceptable use, privacy, and equity
Submit Annual AI Impact Reports: Data on usage, outcomes, and equity metrics
Ensure Ed Law 2-d Compliance: All AI vendors must complete NYSED data privacy agreements
Provide Opt-Out Options: Parents retain right to alternative non-AI assignments
Maintain Academic Standards: AI cannot compromise Regents exam integrity

Grade Band Implementation Guidelines

Pre-K to Grade 2

Focus: No direct AI interaction
Teacher Use: AI for lesson planning only
Exposure: Age-appropriate AI concepts through stories
Screen Time: Follows AAP guidelines

Grades 3-5

Focus: Introduction to AI concepts
Tools: COPPA-compliant educational AI only
Time: Maximum 45 minutes weekly
Skills: Digital citizenship basics

Grades 6-8

Focus: AI literacy and ethics
Tools: Supervised use of educational AI
Time: 2-3 hours weekly integrated
Skills: Source verification, bias detection

Grades 9-12

Focus: College and career readiness
Tools: Advanced AI with proper citation
Time: As appropriate for coursework
Skills: Research, analysis, creation

New York State Learning Standards Alignment

Subject Area	AI Integration Points	Standards Addressed	Assessment Considerations
ELA	Writing assistance, research, reading comprehension	NGLS-ELA Standards 1-11	Citation required, process documentation
Mathematics	Problem-solving support, data analysis	NGLS-Math Standards 1-8	Show work required, conceptual understanding
Science	Data collection, hypothesis testing, simulations	NYSSLS Performance Expectations	Lab process documentation
Social Studies	Research, primary source analysis, writing	NYS K-12 Social Studies Framework	Source evaluation critical
Computer Science	Coding assistance, algorithm development	NYS K-12 CS Standards	Original code required
Arts	Creative inspiration, technique exploration	NYS Arts Standards	Human creativity emphasized

🏛️ New York State-Specific Considerations

Regents Examinations

AI use prohibited during all Regents exams
Test prep may include AI tools with proper disclosure
Practice exams must mirror actual testing conditions
Academic integrity violations may affect graduation

Big 5 City School Districts

Special provisions for NYC, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Yonkers:

Enhanced privacy protections for large student populations
Multilingual family engagement requirements
Coordinated professional development initiatives
Shared procurement opportunities for cost efficiency

BOCES Support Structure

New York's 37 BOCES provide critical AI implementation support:

Shared AI tool licensing for small districts
Regional professional development programs
Technical support and integration services
Model policy development assistance

Professional Development Requirements

CTLE-Approved AI Professional Learning

All certified staff must complete AI training as part of their 100-hour CTLE requirement:

Year 1 (2025): 6 hours minimum AI foundations
Year 2 (2026): 6 hours AI integration strategies
Year 3 (2027): 6 hours advanced AI applications
Ongoing: 3 hours annually for updates

Delivery Methods: In-person, online synchronous, online asynchronous, BOCES partnerships

Funding and Resources

Available Funding Streams

Smart Schools Bond Act: $2B available for technology infrastructure
Foundation Aid: AI tools qualify as instructional materials
Title I: AI for supporting disadvantaged students
Title II: Professional development funding
Title IV: Technology integration support
BOCES Aid: Shared services eligibility for AI tools
E-Rate: Connectivity for AI access

Cost-Saving Strategies

Statewide procurement contracts for volume discounts
BOCES cooperative purchasing agreements
Regional consortiums for shared licenses
Free tier educational accounts where available

Monitoring and Accountability

Support Resources

Metric	Target	Measurement Method	Reporting Frequency
Student AI Literacy	90% proficiency by Grade 12	Digital literacy assessments	Annual
Teacher Preparedness	100% trained by 2025	CTLE completion records	Quarterly
Equity of Access	< 5% disparity between districts	Usage data analysis	Bi-annual
Parent Satisfaction	> 75% approval rating	Annual surveys	Annual
Privacy Compliance	100% vendor compliance	Ed Law 2-d audits	Continuous
Academic Outcomes	Maintain/improve test scores	State assessments	Annual

NYSED AI Support Services

AI Help Desk: ai-support@nysed.gov | 518-474-8830
Professional Development Portal: www.nysed.gov/ai-training
Model Policies Library: www.nysed.gov/ai-policies
Vendor Database: Approved AI tools list updated monthly
Parent Resources: Multi-language materials available

Regional Support Centers

Western New York

Erie 1 BOCES
ai-west@boces.org
(716) 821-7000

Capital Region

Capital Region BOCES
ai-capital@boces.org
(518) 464-3960

New York City

NYC DOE AI Office
ai@schools.nyc.gov
(718) 935-2000

Long Island

Nassau BOCES
ai-li@boces.org
(516) 396-2200