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Every website owner is charged with selecting the appropriate accessible platform that meets their community’s needs and their technology skill level. A few things to keep in mind when researching the best platform for your website:
ERMA Compliance
All website vendors must have a ”Completed” Enterprise Request Management Application (ERMA) status as of July 1, 2023. Anything else–ranging from “initiated,” “in-progress” or, “there are no records to display”–cannot be used.
If you want to use a website vendor that has not yet completed the ERMA process, please follow the steps under Getting Started section of the InfoHub's ERMA page and work with the vendor towards Completion . If the vendor is unwilling or unable to complete ERMA, according to DOE policy, schools must change vendors.
Vendors’ Status in ERMA
Completed
- eChalk
- Edlio
- Educational Networks/SchoolSitePro
- Edutech Studio/Edutech Computer Services
- Google Sites
- SchoolMessenger/Intrado
- SchoolBlocks
- Wix
In Progress
- None
Not on ERMA
- Behively
- Blackboard/FinalSite (withdrawn)
- Blogger
- Drupal
- Go Daddy
- Membership Toolkit
- Mobririse
- School Webmasters
- Squarespace
- Weebly
- Wordpress.com
Accessibility
When choosing a website platform, you need to ensure that it meets the WCAG 2.1 Guidelines at a level AA. That includes:
- Being completely navigable at a 200% zoom
- Having “Skip to main content” links for tabbing through
- No auto-play on the site
- The ability for users to tab-through content, including all the alerts, navigation and sub-navigation, videos, galleries, chats, etc.
- The ability to exit each of the above using the tab AND Escape keys
- Remember …
- automated testing only captures about 30% of all digital accessibility issues.
While an accessible platform helps, accessibility is easily compromised if posts are not created in an accessible format. Be sure to follow all the guidance we have outlined on the Making Accessible Content page.
Accessibility Questions to Ask Potential Vendors
- Be sure to discuss all aspects of a platform’s support for accessibility with its reps before making a commitment. Questions to ask:
- Require the vendor to provide a completed GSA Section 508 approved Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) or equivalent verifying product accessibility.
- If the vendor is unwilling to share their VPAT, they are not committed to accessibility.
- Can you update the site yourself? Or do you submit content to someone on their staff?
- If the latter, how long is the turnaround time?
- Do they have an WCAG 2.1 AA digitally accessible template? Provide template name and example site?
- Do they have built-in web-based accessibility checker?
- How much support do they give you?
- Do you have to learn how to code?
- Do you need to stay on top of add-ons to keep it accessible?
- What type of training do they provide?
- Can the platform support the level of interactivity, messaging, and frequent updates your website needs?
- Is your website vendor's status in ERMA? If not, have you initiated it and connected them with the requirements below?
- Require the vendor to provide a completed GSA Section 508 approved Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) or equivalent verifying product accessibility.
Cost
- Some websites offer a free version--and at an additional cost, you can purchase more features/support. Be sure to talk with their representatives for more specific pricing information.
- Find out what happens if you decide to move from a paid-for service back to the free one?
- Others offer only fee-based services.
- Identify what that cost gives you and your website.
Which platforms are most accessible?
Fee-based platforms
The three highest-scoring fee-based vendors are Edutech Studio, eChalk, and Edlio. They each have accessible templates, and all also rank high for customer service.
Free / low-cost platforms
The highest-scoring free/low-cost vendor with a demonstrated commitment to accessibility is Wix:
- Wix has worked with the NYC DOE to create an accessible template. They also have developed a built-in digital accessibility checker and developed workarounds to meet some basic accessibility requirements.
- Google does not have an accessible template or built-in accessibility checker. They have recently added accessible functionality like “Skip to main content” and “Skip to main navigation." However, their color contrast issues require dark text on a light background in order to be accessible.
Schools' Current Website Vendors & Latest Accessibility Report Scores
The list below is in order of most-to-least accessible website vendors. Note that:
- This is as of the latest Website Accessibility Reports (October 2024)
- Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding
Vendor / # Average Weighted Errors | # DOE Sites | Score 5 | Score 4 | Score 3 | Score 2 or less | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | EduTech Studio / .96 | 18 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
2 | eChalk / 1.26 | 130 | 95% | 5% | 0% | 0% |
3 | Edlio / 2.53 | 202 | 64% | 33% | 3% | 0% |
4 | Educational Networks / 6.46 | 24 | 50% | 50% | 0% | 0% |
5 | Google Sites / 10.74 | 102 | 18% | 53% | 18% | 12% |
6 | Wix / 12.29 | 214 | 17% | 47% | 20% | 17% |
7 | Wordpress / 13.38 | 174 | 14% | 31% | 34% | 21% |
8 | SchoolMessenger / 15.83 | 18 | 0% | 33% | 67% | 0% |
9 | Weebly/ 18.88 | 49 | 2% | 37% | 49% | 12% |
10 | Squarespace/ 17.99 | 125 | 14% | 38% | 23% | 24% |
Guidance for Vendors
All vendors have an obligation, as per the NYC DOE’s agreement with the US DOE’s Office of Civil Rights, to provide products, information, and resources–even print ones–in a digital format that is accessible to people with disabilities and/or who speak a language other than English.
That includes providing:
- A completed General Services Association Section 508 approved Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) or equivalent verifying product accessibility.
- Content that meets the Website Content Accessibility Guidelines at the AA 2.1 level, as a minimum level of compliance.
- Accessibility Statements links to digital version of print materials
- A periodic review of accessibility third-party tools within their sites/applications/resources.
- The vendor must have their application in ERMA in a “Completed” status
Vendor Resources and Recommendations
The vendors below are listed in high to low order based on their demonstrated commitment to accessibility. and include links to resources both onsite and off. But you shouldn’t pick a platform without talking to the vendors yourself.
eChalk
ERMA Status: Completed
Paid/Low Cost: Paid
Resources
- eChalk vendor page
- eChalk accessibility guidance - This is provided by the vendor on their website for their clients
- See a model of an accessible school website (note: it’s a fictional website used for educational purposes only)
EduTechStudio
ERMA Status: Not on ERMA
Paid/Low Cost: Paid
Resources
Edlio
ERMA Status: Completed
Paid/Low Cost: Paid
Resources
Educational Networks
ERMA Status: Completed
Paid/Low Cost: Paid
Resources
Google Sites
ERMA Status: Completed
Paid/Low Cost: Free
Resources
Wix
ERMA Status: Completed
Paid/Low Cost: Free and paid for options--see vendor page for details cost
Resources
- Wix vendor page
- Wix Accessible template (needs adjustments from webmaster)
- Color contrast adjustment instructions
- Video guidance
- Sample Wix Accessible Website
- Note: This model accessible site:
- uses Wix’s accessible template AND
- required the use of the color contrast treatment identified above to ensure that the template became accessible.
- Wix accessibility guidance
Squarespace
ERMA Status: Not on ERMA
Paid/Low Cost: Paid
Resources
WordPress
ERMA Status: Not on ERMA
Paid/Low Cost: Free and paid for options--see vendor page for detail
Resources
- WordPress vendor page
- Make WordPress Accessible Handbook
- Quick start guide
- WordPress Accessibility Plug-in
- Webmasters have shared that WordPress requires a significant investment in staff time to make one’s site accessible. As per WordPress’Quick Start Guide you must add in all the accessibility features by hand. The bulk of their existing templates do not have accessibility built in.They say they have a number of free accessible-ready templates. However, a number of them have been found lacking by the US DOE.
Blackboard/FinalSite
ERMA Status: In Progress
Paid/Low Cost: Paid
Resources
Weebly
ERMA Status: Not on ERMA
Paid/Low Cost: Free
Resources
- Weebly was bought by Square and has changed its focus. They are not supporting accessibility. If you currently use Weebly, we suggest you consider another platform.
SchoolMessenger
ERMA Status: Completed
Paid/Low Cost: Paid