Officials announce policies: NYC bans AI tools for K‑12 students, LA and D.C. tighten limits, while districts face a transgender lawsuit and discipline probe.

Education officials announced a series of policy shifts this week that could affect millions of students nationwide.

Artificial intelligence restrictions

New York City public schools will suspend the use of artificial‑intelligence tools for students until they reach high school, a plan that would cover roughly 600,000 learners. The pause follows a grassroots campaign that also prompted changes in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., where districts announced tighter limits on AI and screen‑time use in classrooms.

Polling shows a majority of U.S. adults now believe schools that ban the technology are better for students, a shift from last year’s survey.

Federal lawsuit over transgender guidelines

The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against a Kansas City school district alleging that its guidelines for transgender students violate federal law. The suit seeks to block the district’s requirement for parental consent before a student can access gender‑affirming resources. If the court rules against the district, it could lose nearly $70 million in federal funding.

Disciplinary tools under scrutiny

Police in Omaha, Nebraska, confirmed that electric‑shock gloves were used twice during the last school year in a program aimed at students with learning deficits. The city’s mayor and police chief said the equipment will be removed pending a review of its safety and efficacy.

Bullying investigation at military academy

The U.S. Army opened an inquiry after a Haitian student, Pierre Damas Bel, was forced to wear an ICE ankle monitor and allegedly faced bullying in a military‑science class before his death by suicide. Officials said they are reviewing the incident for possible violations of conduct standards.

International student enrollment declines

New data suggest that as many as 111,000 fewer international students may enroll in U.S. colleges and universities this year, with the sharpest drops among master’s‑level programs. Analysts attribute the trend to recent visa‑policy changes and heightened geopolitical tensions.

Parental engagement wanes globally

A recent study found that families in almost every country, including the United States, are talking to their children about schoolwork less often than a year ago. Researchers measured the decline through survey questions on parental involvement in education.