School websites are essential tools for communication between districts, educators, parents, students, and the community. But if your website isn’t accessible to everyone — including people with visual, auditory, cognitive, or mobility disabilities — your school could be out of compliance with federal law.
Accessibility is more than just a best practice — it’s a legal requirement under laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Section 508 for federally funded institutions. This guide will walk you through what those requirements mean, how they apply to school websites, and the practical steps to bring your website into compliance.
Why School Website Accessibility Matters
School websites must provide equal access to information, documents, calendars, enrollment forms, lunch menus, emergency notices, and other content. For many families, especially those with disabilities, your website may be the primary way they engage with the school district.
When your website isn’t accessible, it creates barriers for:
- Parents with vision impairments using screen readers
- Students with dyslexia or cognitive disabilities needing readable formatting
- Staff with mobility impairments navigating by keyboard
- Deaf users needing captions on videos or audio content
Improving accessibility benefits everyone — including English Language Learners, senior citizens, and mobile users. It’s about equity, compliance, and better communication.
What Laws Apply to School Websites?
Three key laws govern school website accessibility:
- ADA Title II: Applies to all public K-12 schools and requires equal access to programs and services, including digital content.
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act: Prohibits disability-based discrimination in any program receiving federal funds, including school districts. This law mandates that students with disabilities receive equal opportunity to participate and access materials.
- Section 508: Requires federal agencies — and sometimes state or local entities receiving federal tech funding — to make electronic communications and IT accessible. Some states extend this to K-12 systems.
Many Office for Civil Rights (OCR) investigations and settlements have cited these laws when schools fail to provide accessible websites. Don’t wait for a complaint to find out your site is out of compliance.
Related post: Section 504 & 508 Explained: The Rehabilitation Act and Your Website
What Standards Should Your Website Follow?
The most widely recognized technical standard is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), currently version 2.1 Level AA. It includes specific rules for things like color contrast, keyboard navigation, semantic structure, and screen reader compatibility.
WCAG 2.1 is organized into four principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust. These include requirements such as:
- Text alternatives (alt text) for all images and non-text content
- Clear heading structure using proper HTML tags
- Keyboard accessibility for menus, forms, and documents
- Captions for videos and transcripts for audio files
- Readable color contrast and resizable text
More details: WCAG Accessibility Guide: Make Your Website ADA Compliant
Common Accessibility Problems on School Websites
Many schools unknowingly violate accessibility standards. The most common issues include:
- PDF documents that are not tagged for screen readers
- Calendars and lunch menus posted as images with no alternative text
- Videos without captions or audio without transcripts
- Flash-based content or interactive tools that don’t work on mobile or with keyboard-only input
- Color-only visual cues (e.g., red text to indicate urgency)
Even if you’re using a popular content management system, accessibility isn’t guaranteed. You must audit the actual content being posted, especially by multiple contributors like teachers and admin staff.
How to Make a School Website Accessible
Here’s a practical process for making your website more accessible:
- Conduct an accessibility audit using both automated tools and manual review
- Remediate existing issues, prioritizing pages with the highest traffic or most critical information
- Use accessible templates and layouts that follow WCAG best practices
- Train your staff on how to add accessible documents, videos, and posts
- Test your site with assistive technology like screen readers or voice navigation tools
- Document your efforts to show good-faith compliance in case of future complaints
Related post: Accessibility Training Options for Website Compliance
Who Should Be Involved?
Accessibility isn’t just the responsibility of IT. A compliant school website requires collaboration between:
- Website administrators and content managers
- District communications teams
- Teachers and principals who update pages or post resources
- Third-party vendors who provide calendars, lunch menus, or parent portals
Everyone should be trained to post content in a way that meets accessibility standards — especially when uploading PDFs, event notices, or weekly newsletters.
Accessibility Doesn’t Stop at the Homepage
While many schools focus on the home page and a few key pages, the entire site must be accessible — including:
- Teacher pages and classroom blogs
- Enrollment or registration portals
- Bus schedules, calendars, and sports information
- Emergency closure notices and alerts
One inaccessible PDF or missing caption can result in an OCR complaint — even if the rest of your site is compliant.
Preventing Complaints with a Proactive Accessibility Plan
The best way to avoid legal challenges is to create and maintain a proactive web accessibility plan. This includes:
- Routine audits (annually or semi-annually)
- Standardized templates that are built for accessibility
- Clear documentation of your compliance efforts
- Training programs for content contributors
- Responsive contacts or accessibility coordinators listed publicly
Learn more: Top 5 Traits of a Great ADA Website Consultant
Need Help Making Your School Website Accessible?
If you’re unsure whether your website is compliant — or you’re receiving complaints — now is the time to take action. We provide:
- Manual and automated audits to identify issues and prioritize fixes
- Remediation services for web pages, PDFs, and third-party tools
- Staff training sessions on how to post accessible content
- Ongoing support to help schools meet evolving accessibility standards
Schedule a consultation to review your school’s website compliance
School website accessibility is no longer optional. It’s essential for equity, communication, and legal compliance. With clear standards like WCAG 2.1 and the support of experienced consultants, your district can build a website that welcomes every family — no matter their needs. Contact us today to take the first step toward digital accessibility