Mobile phones will be banned in high schools starting in the 2026 school year. The Minister of National Education, Édouard Geffray, confirmed that the measure would indeed come into effect next fall. The stated objective is to dedicate school time to learning, interaction among students, and classroom work. This ban extends to high schools a rule already in place in elementary and middle schools.
Since 2018, the use of mobile phones and connected devices has been prohibited in preschools, elementary schools, and middle schools, except for exceptions stipulated in the school's internal regulations. Until now, high schools could already regulate or prohibit mobile phone use, but this decision was left to each individual school.
The rule: no phone use during school hours
In practical terms, students will not be allowed to use their phones on school premises during class time. The exact procedures will be specified locally: phones must be switched off and stored away, placed in a locker, a dedicated pouch, or another system chosen by the school. School rules will define the locations, any conditions of use, and the applicable sanctions for non-compliance. This measure does not necessarily mean that all phones will be confiscated at the entrance of every high school. However, it does establish a national rule: mobile phones must no longer be used freely in school spaces. Schools will have to organize its implementation within a common framework, with possible adaptations depending on their specific resources.
Strictly regulated exceptions
Exceptions will remain possible. These may concern educational uses decided by teaching staff, students requiring equipment due to disability or health reasons, or certain specific cases outlined in the school's internal regulations. High schools offering higher education programs may also adapt the rule for the students concerned. In case of non-compliance, the phone may be confiscated by administrative, teaching, support, or supervisory staff. The conditions for confiscation and return must be specified in the school's internal regulations.
A continuity from primary school to high school
With this extension, the government aims to ensure continuity throughout schooling: primary, middle, and then high school. The "Phones on Hold" program, implemented in all middle schools starting in the 2025 school year, had already reinforced the physical distancing of phones during the school day. Each middle school was to choose its own implementation plan, in consultation with the school community.
The start of the 2026 school year should therefore mark a new stage: for the first time, French students should complete their entire schooling without free use of the phone in the establishment.
Back to school 2026: application starting in September
As a reminder, the start of the 2026-2027 school year is set for Tuesday, September 1, 2026. It is from this date that the ban will apply in high schools. Schools must integrate the new rule into their internal organization before the students arrive.
