
NYC Schools Software Freeze Leaves Principals Without Gradebooks Two Weeks Before September 10 Opening
New York City principals are heading into the September 10 first day of school unable to renew subscriptions for electronic gradebooks, family communication platforms, and other routine software after a purchasing freeze ordered by Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels in July has stretched into late August with no end date. The freeze, tied to the Education Department’s unfinished artificial intelligence policy, is now colliding with back-to-school preparations across the nation’s largest public school system. Key Takeaways Chancellor Kamar Samuels ordered a moratorium on all new educational software purchases in early July while the Education Department develops AI and screen-time guidelines. At least four administrators confirmed they cannot renew annual subscriptions for electronic gradebooks, digital hall passes, and family communication tools ahead of the September 10 start date. The freeze also blocked at least one school from ordering i-Ready, a reading and math intervention platform used to support students who need additional academic help. The policy delay traces back







































