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Saskatchewan's School Cellphone Ban: What Schools Need to Know in 2026
Yes, during class. Since the 2024-25 school year, Saskatchewan prohibits cellphones in K-12 classrooms during class time. Grade 9-12 teachers can ask for an exemption for a specific lesson, and breaks are left to school divisions.
Under the provincial measures announced on 6 August 2024, students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 may not use cellphones during class time. Teachers of Grades 9-12 can seek approval from administration to allow phones for a specific instructional purpose. Division procedures must include exemptions for students who need a device for medical or specific learning needs, and keep emergency contact routes.
Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill announced the measures weeks before the 2024-25 year, saying phones too often take students' attention from learning. Divisions updated their procedures for that September. The province lists the rule as its personal electronic devices responsible use policy. No change to the core rule was found for 2025-26 or 2026-27.
Divisions write their own procedures within the provincial rule, so storage and sanctions vary by school. The Prairie Spirit board chair backed the change as a way to cut distractions. The NDP education critic argued underfunding, not phones, was the main classroom problem. The province did not announce dedicated funding for storage.
Whatever Saskatchewan's class-time rule requires, lockable pouches let students keep their own phone, locked, from the first bell to the last, so the school does not collect, store or answer for devices. Before The Internet ships lockable pouches and unlocking bases from Toronto to schools across Canada, including in Saskatchewan, and can print the school's 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 have, and we will beat it.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Saskatchewan rule cover breaks and lunch?
The provincial rule covers class time. Divisions and schools decide what happens at breaks and lunch.
Can high school teachers still use phones in lessons?
Yes, in Grades 9-12 only, if administration approves an exemption for a specific instructional purpose.
Are there medical exemptions?
Yes. Division procedures must include exemptions for students who need ongoing device use for medical or specific learning needs.
Related reading
School cellphone bans in Canada · Phone-free schools toolkit · Bell-to-bell school phone policy template
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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