In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a final rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requiring state and local educational agencies (SEAs and LEAs) to ensure all of their websites, web-based software, and native mobile apps are accessible to individuals with disabilities. The rule identified a technical standard for conformance and set compliance deadlines based upon the population served by the agency.
On April 20, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice published an Interim Final Rule (IFR) that extends the compliance deadlines by one year. Now, agencies serving a population of 50,000 or more must comply by April 26, 2027, while agencies serving populations of less than 50,000 must comply by April 26, 2028. Nonetheless, the accessibility requirements first laid out in the 2024 Title II final rule of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) remain the same.
From a practical perspective, it is critical to continue making progress with digital accessibility in schools, because it does not happen quickly. It requires coordination across general education, administration, information technology, purchasing, and special education. Existing vendor and publisher contracts need to be reviewed and updated with accessibility requirements. Curriculum and other educational technology selection processes need to be updated to include accessibility from the beginning. Staff across these roles and functions, plus those creating educational materials, need training before the deadline so they have the skills needed to be ready.
Regardless of the compliance deadline, we know that the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Level 2.1 AA is the minimum requirement. With this guidance, and tools like the Quality Indicators for the Provision and Use of Accessible Digital Educational Materials, agency-wide accessible systems can be built. This not only improves compliance but provides environments built on access and a sense of belonging for students with disabilities.
Learn more about what digital materials are included in the final rule, get examples of student impact, and discover how NCADEMI and other resources can help your agency build accessibility into its procurement, instructional design, communication, and leadership structures.
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