Section 1: K-12 Phased Approach Policy
K-12 Education Purchasing and Procurement Policy Guidelines
Purpose: This set of guidelines for procurement policy development ensures that educational institutions adopt and prioritize accessible digital materials, fostering inclusivity and compliance with legal standards, particularly under Title II of the ADA, effective April 2026. It is tailored to guide institutions as they procure resources for the 2025–2026 academic year and beyond.
Focus on New Adoptions: Institutions must center their procurement efforts on new adoptions of educational materials, prioritizing resources that meet the latest accessibility standards. By choosing Born Accessible content, schools can ensure compliance with accessibility regulations while promoting an inclusive learning environment for all students.
Accessibility as a Key Criterion: Accessibility of digital materials should remain a fundamental consideration during the procurement process. To adhere to legal requirements and promote usability, institutions must purchase materials that:
- Conform to WCAG 2.1 level AA standards, ensuring usability for students with disabilities.
- Are accompanied by a detailed Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) from the publisher. The VPAT must explicitly document the accessibility features of the publisher’s products and services.
Standards for EPUB Titles: All titles in the EPUB format must meet the following criteria: – Conform to the EPUB Accessibility Conformance and Discoverability Specification 1.1. – Include comprehensive accessibility metadata in both ONIX 3.1 and EPUB embedded metadata formats. – Feature third-party certification of accessibility. Institutions should look for third party certification such as, Global Certified Accessible (GCA) certification from Benetech to verify compliance.
HTML Materials Delivered Through the LMS: Materials delivered as HTML via the Learning Management System (LMS) must adhere to WCAG 2.1 Level A standards. This ensures that online content is accessible to students with varying needs and abilities.
Review and Update of Existing Materials: While new adoptions should prioritize Born Accessible content, schools must also evaluate materials currently in use. Institutions should: – Review older contracts to determine whether updates are necessary to align with the latest accessibility standards. – Upgrade older materials to their most accessible versions if the publisher offers updated formats conforming to accessibility requirements. – Establish policies for materials that are not available in accessible formats, utilizing resources such as Bookshare and NIMAC to obtain alternative accessible materials.
Policy Accessibility: The institution’s procurement policy must be readily available via its website, ensuring that accessibility guidelines are transparent and easily accessible to all stakeholders.
By adopting this policy, institutions will not only meet legal accessibility requirements but also champion an inclusive and equitable educational environment for their students.
