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Mexico's School Cellphone Ban: What Schools Need to Know in 2026
Yes, from 3 November 2026. A Ministry of Public Education (SEP) agreement bans personal phones for the whole school day, including recess, in initial, preschool, primary and secondary education, public and private. Upper secondary schools must limit non-educational use.
The rule is the SEP agreement to guarantee children's rights in the use of personal digital devices (Acuerdo 09/09/26), published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación on 22 September 2026. In basic education, phones are restricted for the whole school day, recess included. Exceptions: planned teaching use under a teacher, emergencies, disability, health needs and extraordinary community situations.
The agreement takes effect on 3 November 2026. Reports say it followed a national teacher consultation in which 88% backed limiting phones and 56% backed a full school-day ban. Upper secondary (media superior) schools must limit non-educational use and can pick a model, from classroom storage to set times. Universities keep their own policies. Authorities will review progress twice a year.
The SEP takes a formative and preventive approach, with no national sanctions. Each level has a ten-point guide (decálogo) for schools to follow. Phones may stay stored during classes and breaks. Media superior options include keeping phones in school custody in the classroom, limiting use to certain times or places, a no-use day, or use only on set days.
Whatever the SEP agreement requires, lockable pouches let students keep their own phone, locked, from the first bell to the last, so primarias and secundarias do not collect, store or answer for devices. Before The Internet ships lockable phone pouches and unlocking bases worldwide, including to Mexico, and can print the school's name or crest on them. Schools buy them outright: one price, no subscription, lease or per-student annual licence. Send us your student numbers and any written quote you already have, and we will beat it.
Frequently asked questions
When does Mexico's school phone ban start?
On 3 November 2026, under the SEP agreement published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación on 22 September 2026.
Does the ban cover recess and private schools?
Yes. In preschool, primary and secondary education, phones are restricted for the whole school day including recess, in public and private schools.
What about bachillerato and preparatoria?
Upper secondary schools are not under a full ban. They must limit non-educational use and choose an approach, such as classroom storage or set times for use.
Related reading
School phone bans by country · Phone-free schools toolkit · How to roll out phone pouches in a school
Written by the team at Before The Internet, a Toronto-based phone-free company that rents lockable phone pouches for events across North America and sells them to schools and venues worldwide, shipping purchases to any country.
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