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Mexico Limits Student Phone Use in All Basic Schools

The federal agreement requires schools and state authorities to set storage rules, define exceptions, run outreach, and hold assemblies before enforcement to protect attention, wellbeing and in-person convivencia.

Overview

  • The Secretariat of Public Education published Acuerdo número 09/09/26 in the Official Gazette and the national rule for educación básica will take effect on 3 November 2026 following a 30-business-day information and sensitization period.
  • From that date, students in preescolar, primaria and secundaria may not use cellphones or personal digital devices during the full school day, including recess, except for planned pedagogical activities, emergencies, health or accessibility needs.
  • The agreement includes three decálogos with age‑specific guidance to teach disconnection, data protection and verification of information while promoting in‑person convivencia and wellbeing.
  • Education media superior and educación superior are exempt from a single national ban: each institution must negotiate local rules for storage, schedules and permitted use through consultation with its school community.
  • States must publish or harmonize local legal instruments within 180 calendar days after the rule starts, and several states such as Sonora and Nayarit are already preparing local protocols, storage arrangements and assemblies to implement the measure.