1511  BOARD OF EDUCATION WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY
It is the goal of the Board of Education that the information on the school district’s internet websites are is accessible to individuals with disabilities in compliance with the requirements of Federal law (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and that statute’s implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 104, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and that statute's implementing regulations at 28 C.F.R. Part 35) and New Jersey law (N.J.S.A. 18A:36-35.1). 
A.    	Federal Law – American with Disabilities Act (ADA)
	1.     	For the purposes of this Policy the Federal law - Section 504 of the 			Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and that statute’s implementing regulations at 			34 C.F.R. Part 104, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 			1990 and that statute's implementing regulations at 28 C.F.R. Part 35 and 			this Policy, “school district website” includes, but is not limited to, the 			internet home page, all subordinate pages, school or school district 				department pages, intranet pages and sites, and includes online content and 		functionality, developed by, maintained by, or offered through a third-party 		vendor or by using open sources.
	2.     	The accessibility of online content and functionality will be measured 			according to the most up-to-date version of the World Wide Web 				Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 			Level AA and the Web Accessibility Initiative Accessible Rich Internet 			Application Suite (WAI-ARIA) 1.0 for web content (benchmarks for 			measuring accessibility).
	3.     	By conforming to the benchmarks for measuring accessibility set forth 			above, the Board of Education will ensure that people with disabilities 			have an opportunity equal to that of their nondisabled peers to access the 			information on the district’s website, except where doing so would impose 		an undue burden or create a fundamental alteration of the district’s 				website.  When fundamental alteration or undue burden defenses apply, 			the district will make reasonable modifications/accommodations for 			individuals with disabilities in order to provide equally effective alternate 			access.  In providing such access, the district will ensure that to the 			maximum extent possible individuals with disabilities receive the same 			benefits or services as their nondisabled peers.  To provide equally 				effective alternate access, alternates are not required to produce the 			identical result or level of achievement for persons with and without 			disabilities, but must afford persons with disabilities equal opportunity to 			obtain the same result, to gain the same benefit, or to reach the same level 			of achievement.
	4.     	To ensure that the district’s website conforms with the above benchmarks 			for measuring accessibility, except where doing so would impose an undue 		burden or create a fundamental alteration of the district’s website, the 			Superintendent of Schools will designate a school staff member to act as 			the Website Accessibility Coordinator.  The Coordinator will be Mr. Dan 			Yardley.
		a.   	Ensure that in-house staff and contractors responsible for 					webpages and webpage content development are properly trained 				on the Board of Education’s website accessibility policy and 				procedures;
		b.   	Ensure that all new, newly added, and modified online content and 				functionality is accessible to people with disabilities as measured 				by conformance to the above benchmarks by, among other things:
			(1). 	Checking the hypertext markup language (HTML) of all 					new webpages on the website to make sure that accessible 					elements are used, including "alt" tags, long descriptions, 					and captions, as needed;
			(2). 	Ensuring that webpages are designed in a manner that 					allows them to be displayed using a visitor’s own settings 					for color and fonts, and can be navigated with a keyboard;
			(3). 	If images are used, including photos, graphics, scanned 					images, or image maps, making sure to include text 						equivalents for them, using "alt" tags and/or long 						descriptions for each and ensuring the text equivalents 					convey the meaningful information presented visually by 					the image;
			(4).	If online forms and tables are used, making those elements 					accessible;
			(5). 	Ensuring that videos appearing on the website include 					appropriately synchronized audio description and captions;
			(6). 	Ensuring when posting new documents on the website, the 					documents shall be provided in HTML or another 						text-based format (even if they are provided in another 					format, such as portable document format (PDF)).  If 					documents are provided in both formats, provide both 					formats at the same time so people with disabilities have 					the same degree of access as others;
			(7). 	Periodically enlisting people with a variety of disabilities to 				test the Board of Education’s webpages for accessibility 					and ease of use and use this information to increase the 					Board’s website accessibility;
			(8). 	Periodically coordinating the audit of existing content and 					functionality of the website to identify online content or 					functionality that is inaccessible to persons with 						disabilities; and
			(9).  	Developing and carrying out a corrective action plan, when 					necessary, for making the district’s existing web content 					accessible.
		c.   	Ensure that alternative means are available for people with 					disabilities to access information, programs, and services that are 				normally provided on the Board’s website.
B.    	New Jersey Law – N.J.S.A. 18A:36-35.1
	1.     	For the purpose of New Jersey law – N.J.S.A. 18A:36-35.1 and this 			Policy, “internet website or web service” includes any webpage, website, 			web service, online curriculum, or online third party or open educational 			resource product that is made available to enrolled students or the public 			by the school district.
	2.     	Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:36-35.1, no school district shall make available 			to the enrolled students of the district or school or to the public an Internet 			website or web service unless the Internet website or web service complies 		with the most up-to-date version of the World Wide Web Consortium’s 			(W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) if the Guidelines 			are approved by the Commissioner of Education, or any other applicable 			guidelines or requirements as may be designed or approved by the 				Commissioner of Education. 
	3.     	In accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:36-35.1.a. and b., the school district is 			required to submit a statement of assurance attesting to compliance with 			N.J.S.A. 18A:36-35.1 as required by the Commissioner of Education.    
This Policy establishes minimum standards for the accessibility of web-based information and services considered necessary to meet the district’s goals and ensure compliance with applicable Federal and State laws. 
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
34 C.F.R. Part 104; 28 C.F.R. Part 35
N.J.S.A. 18A:36-35.1

Adopted: 9/27/22