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Understand education digital accessibility requirements
Use official education and DOJ guidance to confirm scope, standards, and timelines.
Starter draft for review. Use as a conversation or planning aid.
Public education and Title II
The DOJ web and mobile rule sets WCAG 2.1 Level AA for covered public entities. Following the April 2026 extension, dates are April 26, 2027 for populations of 50,000 or more and April 26, 2028 for smaller entities and special district governments.
Student enrollment does not determine the deadline. DOJ uses 2022 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates for independent school districts. A state university generally uses its parent government's population. Confirm the entity classification and population method in DOJ guidance.
Section 504 and education
Section 504 covers recipients of federal financial assistance. Education Department guidance addresses equal access to digital programs and technology under Section 504 and Title II. Public and private institutions need to confirm the laws, policies, and commitments that apply to them; do not assign a private institution the public-entity dates solely from this guide.
Use the authorized institutional process
Coordinate applicability, exception decisions, and individual access arrangements with the institution's accessibility, disability services or special education, and legal or policy leads. A toolkit or completed plan does not establish conformance.
Official sources
- DOJ: first steps, population methods, and current dates
- U.S. Department of Education: technology accessibility guidance
- U.S. Department of Education: disability discrimination FAQs
Official sources checked November 2, 2026. Follow the live guidance for updates.