Accessibility FAQ

Digital Accessibility FAQ for ESU 10 School Districts

Supporting districts in meeting the new DOJ digital accessibility requirements

1. What is the new DOJ Digital Accessibility Rule?

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a new federal regulation under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that requires state and local government entities, including public schools, to ensure their digital resources including websites, web content, and mobile applications are accessible to individuals with disabilities.

This includes both existing digital content that you plan to continue to use as well as any new digital tools or resources your district adopts in the future. Note: There may be exceptions for keeping digital content available that may be “archived” and not used/updated. Examples might include archived board minutes, etc.

2. Which standards does my district need to meet?

The rule adopts the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA as the technical standard. WCAG 2.1 outlines specific criteria to make digital content more accessible to users with disabilities, including those who use assistive technologies such as screen readers, alternative input devices, or captioning.

3. What are the compliance deadlines?

Compliance deadlines are determined by the population size of the public entity:

Population of 50,000 or more: Deadline April 24, 2026

Population of less than 50,000: Deadline April 26, 2027

Districts must ensure that their digital resources including, but not limited to, websites, web content, and mobile applications meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA by their respective deadline.

4. What types of content are included?

The rule applies broadly to all digital content and platforms your district uses, including, but not limited to:

District, school, and classroom websites
Mobile apps
Learning management systems (LMS)
PDFs, presentations, and posted resources
Embedded videos and media (including captions and transcripts)
Calendars, forms, and interactive elements
Third-party platforms or tools used with students, staff, or the public

5. What happens if we’re not compliant by the deadline?

Failure to comply with the ADA can result in federal enforcement actions or complaints filed by community members. Beyond compliance, ensuring accessibility is a critical step in making sure all students, families, and staff can fully engage with your district’s digital resources.

6. What support is available through ESU 10?

ESU 10 is here to support districts at every stage of the process, including:

Website & Digital Content Reviews – We can help you audit your current platforms to identify accessibility gaps.
Transition Planning – We’ll work with your team to plan for future digital resource adoption and ongoing accessibility maintenance.
Staff Training – We provide professional development for administrators, webmasters, teachers, and staff on accessibility best practices.
Consultation & Technical Assistance – Have questions or need tailored support? Our team can meet with you to create a district-specific strategy.

7. What resources are available to learn more?

8. Who should districts involve in this work?

Successful implementation involves a cross-functional team. We recommend including:

District leadership and administrators
Technology and website managers
Teaching and learning staff
Special education and student services representatives
Communications or public relations staff

9. Where should we start?

Conduct an accessibility review of your district’s current websites and digital content.
Develop a transition plan for remediating existing content and vetting new digital tools.
Provide staff training on creating accessible documents, media, and web content.
Establish policies and ongoing review processes to ensure long-term compliance.

ESU 10 can provide checklists, planning templates, and training to guide each of these steps.

10. Who can I contact at ESU 10 for support?

For questions, support, or to set up a district consultation, please contact anyone on our Digital Learning/Accessibility Team:

Jason Everett, Peg Coover, Adam Griebel, Jon Haussler

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