As previously reported in 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a final rule under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that requires public bodies, including school districts, to ensure that certain content posted on their websites, mobile apps, and certain other digital content is accessible to people with disabilities. In general, the rule required public bodies to conform to a well-known set of technical standards (“Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA”) by certain deadlines. On April 20, 2026, the DOJ issued a new Interim Final Rule (IFR) extending the compliance deadlines for the rule. The DOJ stated that, based on the comments it received regarding the rule, it had “overestimated the capabilities (whether staffing or technology) of covered entities to comply with the rule in the time frames provided.” The DOJ also concluded that covered public entities could “suffer significant consequences” and “face significant litigation risks” if it did not extend the 2024 Rule’s compliance dates.
The new IFR extends the compliance deadlines as follows. The compliance date for State and local government entities with a total population of 50,000 or more is extended from April 24, 2026, to April 26, 2027. The compliance date for public entities with a total population of less than 50,000, or any special district government, is extended from April 26, 2027, to April 26, 2028.
This IFR is important because it allows school districts additional time to understand and implement the appropriate accessibility standards for their websites and mobile apps.
Contact any Hodges Loizzi Corporate Practice Group attorney with questions on this new rule.