How New York City schools are using AI-powered teaching assistants to raise reading achievement

The New York City public schools are looking for innovative methods to facilitate learning in students by incorporating artificial intelligence into the classroom. According to a report by The 74, the superintendents in the Bronx and Brooklyn have tested the use of AI teaching assistants in middle schools to improve reading comprehension and writing skills. The program aims to supplement the teaching process rather than replace teachers in the classroom.

Targeted support in core classes

Rather than being an additional intervention, the program centers on foundational English Language Arts skills. Students are working in small groups on Chromebooks, interacting with the texts and questions in the curriculum. The AI tool makes the instruction interactive by allowing students to receive immediate feedback and think about particular passages, inferences, and the author’s craft.

The 74 reports that this method guarantees kids get the focused help they need, yet they are still able to engage in group classroom discussions. Teachers keep an eye on the pupils' development through a live dashboard, a tool that helps them rapidly figure out the kids' weak spots and offer assistance just at the right moment.

Encouraging collaboration and building confidence

A major objective of the pilot is to foster teamwork and quality face, to, face interactions. Students initially talk over each question with their peers before they individually interact with the AI, thus mixing independent thinking with collaboration. The tech finds kids' misunderstandings as they happen and thus provides the teachers with the information to guide the class through discussions where they can clear up the misunderstandings and highlight the good ideas.

The 74 highlights that this process has increased student participation, as children feel more confident sharing their thoughts after receiving both peer and AI support. Besides that, the program includes short written responses or exit tickets that the students revise with the help of up to three feedback sessions. This encourages them to always think twice before doing something and try to make it better.

Promising results and early impact

Early results suggest that the program is effective. Students in classrooms where AI tools are used at least twice a week showed growth on the 2025 New York State reading assessments nearly twice as fast as their peers in the same district who did not use such tools. At a Bronx district, the students of participating schools reported a growth of 14-16 percentage points compared to the previous year, whereas the whole district only improved by seven points.

The results seem to reflect that AI is a valuable tool in supporting students' learning, but for it to work effectively, it needs to be combined with teacher, led guidance rather than replacing it.

Lessons for schools and educators

The pilot emphasizes that AI will achieve its greatest impact if it is combined with and supports good teaching practices. The tools should work with well, crafted educational materials and should not give teachers an easy way to skip through the learning progressions. There is still a need for human connection; technology cannot replace collaboration, discussion, and individualized support.

The project also reveals that it is pedagogical decisions, not the technical features that determine success, as the teachers were involved in creating the tools, which helped to bring out misconceptions and highlight excellent thinking. In the end, it is vital that the goals are clear, and regular evaluations are carried out to reveal the real effect of any AI program on student learning so that technology is enabling measurable results instead of novelty.

Shaping the future of learning

As The 74 emphasizes, the decisions school leaders make today will shape student learning for years to come. By thoughtfully combining AI with classroom instruction, schools can support reading achievement, foster collaboration, and build student confidence. The pilot shows that when technology is guided by strong pedagogy and clear learning goals, it can enhance instruction rather than diminish it, offering a model for other districts looking to prepare students for an AI-powered future.
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