Phone-Free Schools in Minneapolis–Saint Paul: SPPS Cell Phone Policy
Saint Paul Public Schools serves about 33,000 students in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Minnesota’s phone-free school law, SF 3567, required every district to have a policy by March 15, 2025.
- Location
- Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Ramsey County
- Enrollment
- About 33,000 students
- Minneapolis–Saint Paul area
Saint Paul Public Schools is a public school district headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota (Ramsey County), serving approximately 33,000 students across the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area. Like every district in Minnesota, its cell phone rules are shaped by state law — and by how well the policy is actually enforced on each campus.
Does SPPS ban cell phones?
Yes. Minnesota law (SF 3567 (2024)) requires districts to restrict student personal-device use (district-determined), so the district must have a written phone policy.
For the full statute, scope, effective date, and primary sources, see our guide to Minnesota's phone-free school law, part of our phone-free school laws by state directory.
Enforcing a phone-free day across Minneapolis–Saint Paul
Minnesota leaves the enforcement method to local districts.
Three enforcement models districts choose from
- Physical pouches (e.g., Yondr): a per-student cost that recurs as pouches are lost or damaged, plus daily hand-out and unlocking at every campus.
- District storage (lockers, caddies, classroom bins): low hardware cost, but it relies on staff to police compliance period after period.
- Device-level software (such as LockedIn): locks the phone students already carry during school hours, with no pouches to hand out.
LockedIn, which publishes this page, makes software that locks students' own phones during the school day, with an admin dashboard and no pouches or hardware. Where a state requires phones to be stored away from students, it works alongside that storage rather than replacing it. Compare the options in our phone-free school solutions comparison or the LockedIn vs. Yondr breakdown, and model the math with our pouch-vs-software cost calculator.
What SPPS schools can do next
Draft a policy with our free phone-free school policy generator, or contact our team for a quote. Title I schools in Minnesota may also qualify for subsidized access.
Explore other Minnesota school districts or browse phone-free school coverage by district.
Frequently asked questions
Does SPPS have a cell phone ban?
Yes. Minnesota law (SF 3567 (2024)) requires districts to restrict student personal-device use (district-determined), so the district must have a written phone policy.
What is Minnesota's school cell phone law?
Minnesota required every school district and charter school to adopt a policy on student cell phone possession and use by March 15, 2025. The law sets no statewide scope, and 2026 proposals for a statewide ban did not become law. See our full Minnesota guide for the statute, scope, effective date, and exceptions.
How can Saint Paul-area schools enforce a phone-free day?
Schools generally choose physical pouches (like Yondr), district-managed storage, or device-level software like LockedIn that locks the phone students already carry during school hours. Each district picks the method; check SPPS's student handbook for the one it uses.
How much does LockedIn cost for a district like SPPS?
LockedIn is priced per student, per year, and quoted per school or district based on enrollment and rollout — there are no pouches or hardware to buy and no per-unit replacement costs. Contact us for a written quote and a side-by-side comparison against a pouch program. Qualifying Title I schools may receive subsidized or fully covered access.