Overview
- The Secretaría de Educación Pública published Acuerdo 09/09/26 in the Diario Oficial de la Federación on Tuesday, September 22, and opened a 30 working‑day period of information assemblies that began the following day.
- Under the decree, education básica (initial through secondary) will face a near‑total restriction on personal phones and smart devices during the school day with limited exceptions for planned lessons, emergencies, health needs or accessibility requirements.
- Education media superior (bachillerato/preparatoria) must limit non‑pedagogical use but each school will set its own rules through consultation, including options to store devices, hold them in custody or allow use only at set times and places.
- Universities retain autonomy and will be encouraged to promote responsible use rather than face a national ban, and the rules do not require teachers to surrender or stop using personal phones during the school day.
- The agreement takes effect nationwide on November 3, 2026, gives state education authorities 180 calendar days after that to issue or harmonize local instruments, and mandates six‑monthly follow ups even as experts warn bans alone may not by themselves improve grades or mental health.