Josh Gottheimer

As the debate intensifies over how schools should embrace AI, a new proposal aims to use federal dollars to fund grants for AI labs in K-12 schools to introduce the technology to students and help them use it skillfully, without bypassing the "productive struggle" that experts say is needed to learn and think rigorously.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-Tenafly, unveiled the AI LABS Act on Sept. 4 in Ridgewood as a back-to-school measure to keep pace with the proliferating technology's impacts.

The bill, expected to be officially introduced on the floor of the House of Representatives this week, would pay for schools to "give kids tools" and train teachers in AI readiness, Gottheimer said.

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The bill also proposes studying who received federal funding and resources to be able to recommend future investments in AI literacy.

Gottheimer's bill comes as districts in New Jersey and beyond are exploring more non-screen teaching and approaches to testing. It follows a trend of students cheating and relying too much on chatbots for homework.

The congressman said his bill calls for "the balance we need to be talking about in the age of AI."

"The answer isn't more screens," he said. "The answer is smarter, more purposeful use of technology, alongside real, honest-to-goodness reading, writing and critical thinking."

"We can't let AI write our papers," he said. "But it can be a tool for helping us learn. We can't allow AI to replace our educators," but it can reduce "busy work" and create "personalized lesson plans."

Ways to reduce reliance on tech in school

The Ridgewood school district is among those weighing approaches that reduce unnecessary use of tech.

"At this point we have concerns about the extent to which students have exposure to too much technology," said Mark Schwarz, the district superintendent. "We also need to be prepared for a technology-rich future." The district is implementing a "Return to a Strong Foundation," focusing on limiting screen time by reducing laptop use for its youngest students and revising fundamental concepts.

Gottheimer's move overlapped New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's announcement banning the use of AI in all city public schools until eighth grade, followed by restricted use in high school for the school year.

"I get the instinct," Gottheimer said. But while he supports more paper-pencil tests and note-taking, "an outright ban doesn't teach kids how to use AI responsibly nor the skills that can help them," he said. Banning technology versus drowning in it is "a false choice," he said.

Mamdani's policy imposes a moratorium on any AI use in New York City schools from grades 1 through 8, describing its use in younger grades as interfering "with human interaction and hands-on learning that we know is developmentally appropriate for children." Ninth to 12th graders in New York City schools will have weekly limits on using state-approved AI tools.

New Jersey Education Commissioner Lily Laux has not issued a comprehensive AI-use policy for public schools. The state's largest teachers' union, the NJEA, says on its website that embracing "the shift" brought by AI should not hurt teachers or their jobs, and that children should be taught "foundational ideas" about AI in early grades but trained to be skeptical.