Section 508 Compliance for Education Websites
Meet Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requirements with comprehensive accessibility testing designed for education organizations.
Why Section 508 Matters for Education
Public schools and universities receiving federal funding must meet Section 508
Federal student aid systems require Section 508 compliance
Research institutions with federal grants must ensure accessible ICT
Department of Education actively enforces Section 508 requirements
Educational technology vendors need VPATs for institutional sales
Section 508 Requirements for Education
Accessible electronic documents
Course materials, syllabi, and educational content must be accessible
Accessible software
LMS, testing platforms, and educational applications must meet software requirements
Multimedia accessibility
Educational videos need captions and audio descriptions
Functional performance criteria
Educational tools must be usable without vision, hearing, or hand use
Common Section 508 Issues in Education Websites
Issue
FAFSA website accessibility barriers
Solution
Department of Education working to improve federal aid accessibility
Issue
LMS platforms lacking Section 508 VPATs
Solution
Require VPATs in procurement and conduct independent accessibility testing
Issue
Research databases with inaccessible interfaces
Solution
Include accessibility requirements in database subscriptions and contracts
Issue
Educational software excluding students with disabilities
Solution
Evaluate software accessibility before adoption and provide alternatives
How A11yScan Helps Education Meet Section 508
Section 508 Testing
Automated testing against all Section 508 success criteria relevant to education.
Education Focus
Industry-specific testing profiles targeting common education accessibility issues.
Compliance Reports
Generate Section 508 compliance documentation and remediation roadmaps.
Continuous Monitoring
24/7 monitoring to maintain Section 508 compliance as your education site evolves.
Frequently Asked Questions: Education Section 508 Compliance
Does Section 508 apply to K-12 public schools?
Section 508 directly applies to federal agencies and contractors. K-12 schools must comply with ADA and Section 504, which typically require meeting WCAG standards similar to Section 508.
How do universities meet Section 508?
Universities receiving federal funding should meet Section 508 for procurement and ensure accessible ICT. Most interpret this as meeting WCAG 2.0/2.1 AA for web content and requiring vendor accessibility documentation.
What accessibility documentation should educational vendors provide?
Educational technology vendors should provide VPATs documenting Section 508 conformance, accessibility roadmaps for planned improvements, and support documentation for accessibility features.
Other Compliance Standards for Education
Education WCAG 2.1 AA
Ensure your education website meets WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
WCAG 2.2Education WCAG 2.2
Ensure your education website meets WCAG 2.2 accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
ADA ComplianceEducation ADA Compliance
Ensure your education website meets ADA Compliance accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
EN 301 549Education EN 301 549
Ensure your education website meets EN 301 549 accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
Section 508 Compliance for Other Industries
Healthcare Section 508
Ensure your healthcare website meets Section 508 accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
FinanceFinance Section 508
Ensure your finance website meets Section 508 accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
E-commerceE-commerce Section 508
Ensure your e-commerce website meets Section 508 accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
GovernmentGovernment Section 508
Ensure your government website meets Section 508 accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
LegalLegal Section 508
Ensure your legal website meets Section 508 accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
Real EstateReal Estate Section 508
Ensure your real estate website meets Section 508 accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
Ready to Achieve Section 508 Compliance for Your Education Website?
Start with a free accessibility scan and see exactly where your education site stands with Section 508 requirements.