Arizona school districts and public schools: purchase of instructional materials with accessible electronic files for children with disabilities

The State Board of Education was directed to adopt rules requiring all school districts and other public schools to purchase adopted printed and nonprinted instructional materials for which accessible electronic files are available, with procedures and timelines so that accessible materials reach a child with a disability at the same time other students receive theirs.

On-line nonprinted instructional materials are deemed compliant if they meet or exceed the internet accessibility standards of section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The governing board of a school district or the governing body of another public school that solicits bids must give vendors written notification of the article's requirements before soliciting bids for printed and nonprinted instructional materials.

School districts and other public schools must certify that no reproduction or modification of the materials occurs without the express authorization of the copyright holder while the materials are in their custody.

Materials are exempt from the article if an accessible electronic file would fundamentally alter the nature of the instructional activity, result in undue financial and administrative burdens, or cause the resources not to meet state content standards, and the article does not apply to a private school. The section applies only to newly adopted materials adopted after the 2005-2006 school year with an original copyright date of 2004 or later.