The accessibility deadline is here. Schools aren’t ready.

[Daniel Mollenkamp, EdSurge]

View in browser     |   No. 727  |  4/16/26   |   Subscribe to this newsletter This issue is sponsored by   Two years ago, the U.S. Department of Justice published its final rule for web and mobile accessibility, setting deadlines for when schools had to comply.   It gave governments and districts a yardstick for schools to measure whether they were meeting federal rules about making their content accessible,  experts told EdSurge at the time. It also boosted the “business case” for vendors working with schools to build edtech tools with accessibility in mind, according to one expert.   Now, two years later — with the deadline set to take effect in days — schools are unprepared.   There's also a new administration eager to clamp down on “radical” inclusion efforts, widespread fatigue with the pace and reach of technology into students’ lives and rumors that the deadline might get kicked back.   So, what’s going on?   --- Daniel Mollenkamp, EdSurge reporter 📣 TOP STORIES   ADVANCE NOTICE: A major digital accessibility deadline that impacts schools and vendors is here. Few schools are ready, and the government is holding quiet meetings about the deadline. Will schools manage?   PERFECTION NOT REQUIRED: “Perfection is not necessary — in fact, it is antithetical to good teaching” says English teacher Fatema Elbakoury. Reflecting on her time as a Voices of Change fellow, Elbakoury reveals how writing with vulnerability reshaped their identity in and beyond the classroom. Read more about how Elbakoury embraced fear and authenticity as she commemorates the five-year anniversary of the Voices of Change fellowship.   The following is a message from our sponsor   Empower math teachers with Ed.ai, the world’s leading AI grader for handwritten work. Auto-grade, give rich feedback, and generate targeted practice in minutes. Try it for free!   📺 EYES AND EARS RISK ASSESSMENT: Experts estimate many teen boys will gamble while still in high school, before they reach the legal betting age. That analysis has some wondering if schools should use gambling to teach math. Learn more in this EdSurge video short. 🗞️ IN OTHER NEWS   IN TRANSITION: The first year after California guaranteed pre-K placement for all 4-year-olds, a new study showed big enrollment gains. About 62 percent of all 4-year-olds enrolled in publicly funded pre-K programs in the 2024-25 school year, with transitional kindergarten accounting for most of the increase. EdSource data specialist Yuxuan Xie revealed the story behind the Golden State’s numbers in two charts.   Sponsored by ISTE+ASCD THE VIEW FROM THERE: We all carry a mental picture of how students use edtech. But what’s really happening on the ground — or rather, on the screen — from their point of view? Researchers spoke with students across the U.S. to learn what matters most when they’re interacting with digital tools. Their insights give educators practical ways to identify which tools genuinely support student learning. 🔗WHAT WE'RE READING   Sal Khan, a noted AI evangelist, explains why the AI tutoring revolution hasn’t happened yet. (Chalkbeat)   In a first for a major American city, Boston now mandates AI training in public high schools. (WBUR) Colleges, school districts and hospitals are shuttering on-site day cares. Here’s why. (The 74) 📈 STORY IN A STAT 88 percent The share of large K-12 school districts that received an “F” on accessibility from AAAtraq, a company that offers disability-related compliance services. At EdSurge’s request, the company surveyed 20 of the largest school districts in the U.S. and found that they are missing even key components of website accessibility required under federal law. Read more in EdSurge’s feature.   Post a job | See all jobs   Customer Success Manager | CodeHS | Chicago, IL CodeHS is looking for an Customer Success Manager to help manage school implementations and onboarding. You will get a chance to work closely with educators and schools to facilitate teaching coding to students all over the world.     Polish Language Tutor, Rosetta Stone (PT) | IXL Learning | Arlington, VA ​IXL Learning, developer of personalized learning products used by millions of people globally, is seeking a Polish Language Tutor to join our Rosetta Stone Language Tutor Team.   Sr. Manager, Content Business Ops | ISTE+ASCD | Arlington, VA Supports the financial health and operational effectiveness of ISTE+ASCD’s Integrated Content division, overseeing budget strategy, managing business relationships, and coordinating deliverables across journalism, research, and multimedia production.   Events See all events and meetups   THANKS FOR READING   ➔ Got any feedback? We love hearing from readers. Shoot us a note, critiques, a joke—whatever you’ve got! ➔ Interested in reaching our readers? Sponsor this newsletter. EdSurge is an editorially independent project of ISTE+ASCD reporting on the powerful forces, fascinating people and innovative practices shaping teaching and learning. International Society for Technology in Education 2111 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia, 22201, United States To update your email preferences or unsubscribe, click here.