Memo Text
On April 24, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
published a final rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) to establish specific technical standards for state and local government
web content and mobile applications. This federal rule requires all public
school districts and public charter schools to ensure their websites, mobile
apps, and certain digital documents meet the Web Content Accessibility
Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA.
The DOJ has established two tiers for compliance based on
the total population residing within a district’s boundaries (not student
enrollment). Based on the most recent Census Bureau data,
the deadlines are as follows:
- April
24, 2026: State and local government entities with a total
population of 50,000 or more.
- April
26, 2027: State and local government entities with a total
population of less than 50,000.
The rule applies to web content and mobile apps that a
district provides or makes available. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Official
district and school websites
- Mobile
applications (e.g., district-branded apps)
- Online
educational resources and platforms
- Digital
documents (e.g., PDF handbooks or board agendas) posted to the web
- Social
media posts
Districts are encouraged to review the following resources:
The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) is providing this
communication for awareness and planning purposes. This is a federal
requirement mandated and enforced by the DOJ.