The stakes
In 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice made web accessibility a legal requirement for state and local government — including public schools. The benchmark is WCAG 2.1 AA, the internationally recognized standard for accessible websites.
The average case: about $25,000
Most complaints don't end in a government fine — they end in a legal settlement and an urgent scramble to fix your site. Accessibility settlements average around $25,000, and the full cost of a case (legal help plus repairs) usually runs much higher.
Two firm deadlines
April 26, 2027 for larger districts and governments (those serving 50,000+ people). April 26, 2028 for smaller ones. After that, an inaccessible website breaks federal law.
A complaint can come from anyone
Any parent, resident, or advocacy group can file a complaint with the U.S. Office for Civil Rights — the federal agency that investigates discrimination at schools and public bodies. There's no warning, and a complaint can put you under a binding agreement to fix everything on a deadline.