Mexico School Cellphone Restrictions, Digi Mart USA News (Mexico City): Starting Tuesday, November 3, the use of cellphones and other personal electronic devices is restricted in public and private basic-education schools across Mexico. The measure applies throughout the school day, including recess, but allows use for health reasons, emergencies or classroom activities planned by teachers.
The new rules are part of Agreement 09/09/26 from the Secretariat of Public Education (SEP), published in the Official Gazette of the Federation. They cover early childhood education, preschool, primary and secondary school, while high schools must agree on their own conditions with their school communities.
Universities will promote responsible use in line with the rules of each institution.
According to authorities, students may bring their phones but must keep them stored during school hours. This means it will not be mandatory to leave them at home, although families will need to know how to contact their children through the school when necessary.
Education Secretary Mario Delgado explained that the measure aims to reduce distractions and improve coexistence among students. The agency also proposed promoting reading, games and sports to offer other activities during breaks.
According to the SEP, a national consultation on the use of digital devices in basic education was held in August, in which 565,396 education stakeholders participated. Of those consulted, 81.2 percent supported establishing national measures to regulate these devices in schools.
The State of Mexico had already addressed the issue legislatively. The local Congress reported on May 6, 2026, that it approved reforms limiting cellphone use during basic-education classes to academic purposes or personal emergencies, with authorization from the teacher or school administration.
According to that statement, the reforms also called for protocols and guidelines to be developed by the state education authority. They also proposed involving mothers, fathers and guardians in supervising the use of these devices, with an emphasis on preventing cyberbullying and other risks for children and adolescents.
Regarding enforcement, the federal agreement does not set a national list of fines or suspensions for violations. It does, however, establish semiannual reviews between the SEP and local education authorities to assess progress and adjust measures when necessary.
