Key takeaways

• Student testing with diverse learners reveals accessibility gaps that vendor demos and compliance checklists often miss.

• WCAG 2.1 AA compliance requires both technical verification and real classroom testing with assistive technologies that students actually use.

• Sustainable accessibility implementation depends on ongoing teacher training, regular audits, and privacy protection that evolves with technology.

A new AI-powered reading app is launched in your classroom, but a student's screen reader is unable to navigate the first page. This moment highlights a critical gap that affects learning outcomes, equity, and compliance.

Accessibility should be built into every tool you adopt from the start. Vendor checklists alone may not be enough; you need both rigorous technical reviews and hands-on classroom testing to see what actually works for students.

Here are proven strategies for evaluating AI tools in education, covering accessibility standards, real-world testing with diverse learners, infrastructure planning, targeted team training, and continuous compliance.

Always start with accessibility-first design principles

When evaluating tools, prioritize platforms that are built with accessibility in mind, rather than those that add features as an afterthought. Look for vendors who include accessibility testing in their development process. For example, platforms like Bookshare built screen reader compatibility and text-to-speech directly into their reading interface from launch, rather than adding these features later.

Tools designed with accessibility from the ground up integrate smoothly with existing assistive technologies, require minimal configuration, and maintain compatibility as systems update.

Match tools to proven accessibility standards

Evaluate tools using WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines and Universal Design for Learning principles.

• Perceivable means every student can access content, whether they need captions for videos, alt text for images, or screen reader navigation.

• Operable ensures interfaces respond to keyboards, voice controls, and switch devices.

• Understandable keeps directions transparent and predictable, supporting multilingual learners and students with diverse cognitive needs.

• Robust means tools continue to work even when assistive technologies are updated.

When talking with vendors, ask: Which assistive technologies have you tested with? Can we see your accessibility report? How do you maintain compatibility after updates? What's your timeline for fixing accessibility bugs when they're reported?

Test with real students in real classrooms

Vendor demonstrations only show perfect conditions; you need to see how students actually use these tools. Identify specific learning tasks you want the tool to support, and then invite students who represent the diversity of your classroom. 

Consider recruiting a diverse mix of volunteers and purposefully select students who use different assistive technologies, ensuring you include English learners, students with IEPs, and those with varying levels of tech comfort.

Run sessions in your actual classroom when possible. Environmental factors affect tool performance. Watch students complete everyday tasks, such as opening assignments, using text-to-speech features, and submitting their work.

Track task success rates and error counts, and gather student reflections. Secure informed consent (typically requiring administrator or guardian approval for minors), allow students to opt out without penalty, and share how their feedback shapes your decisions.

Build infrastructure that supports every learner

Even well-designed tools fail without proper infrastructure in place. Your devices need to work with screen readers, alternative input devices, and other support tools students rely on.

Real-time transcription and translation tools fail when bandwidth drops. Some schools solve bandwidth issues by installing priority networks for assistive technology traffic or scheduling high-bandwidth activities during off-peak hours. Invest in robust networks and build in offline modes for students in low-coverage areas.

Embed accessibility requirements into your procurement process so every new tool meets your standards from day one.

Train your team for inclusive AI implementation

Start with accessibility basics: POUR principles and Universal Design for Learning fundamentals. Short, focused sessions work best when you pair standards with concrete examples.

Set up lab sessions where your team tries tools with real screen readers, captions, and keyboard navigation. When teachers experience how a quiz behaves under a screen reader, they understand what works and what doesn't.

Monthly professional learning communities provide teachers with a space to share their discoveries. Organizations such as CAST and Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (QIAT) offer ongoing professional development. Make training role-specific: teachers focus on classroom workflows, support staff practice accommodation settings, and IT teams handle technical integration.

Protect student data with transparent security practices

When AI tools store preferences or generate captions, they handle data protected by FERPA, COPPA, and sometimes GDPR.

Data related to accommodations carries extra sensitivity. Minimize what you collect, encrypt data during transfer and storage, and restrict access through role-based permissions (meaning only staff who directly support a student can view their accommodation data, while administrators and unrelated teachers cannot).

Before purchasing any tool, ask vendors: What student data do you collect and why? How long do you keep it? How do you encrypt data? Can families review, correct, or delete their child's records?

Give families control over their data choices

Families need clear notices explaining data flows and their right to opt out. Provide simple consent processes that explain what data is collected and how it's used.

Create transparent communication about how AI tools make decisions. When automated systems influence grades or recommendations, ensure families understand the process and can request human review.

Quick compliance checklist:

• Data flow mapping is completed and reviewed annually

• Written agreement covering FERPA/COPPA requirements

• Transparent family consent processes with precise notification requirements (FERPA generally requires notification and opt-out options rather than opt-in consent)

• Simple access for families to review their child's data

Schedule regular audits and bias evaluations

Schedule quarterly reviews (typically 2-3 hours with IT staff and educators) that combine technical audits with live student testing. This surfaces issues that automated scans miss.

Twice a year, verify that data practices align with vendor promises and that outdated records are deleted as scheduled. Track progress with clear metrics: task completion rates, help requests per session, technical error counts, and feedback. Re-evaluate contracts annually.

Keep teachers in control of AI decisions

Establish policies that empower educators to maintain control over AI decision-making processes. Teachers should always review and approve automated recommendations before they affect student learning.

Create clear escalation procedures when AI tools make mistakes. For example, suppose an AI tool recommends placing a student at a lower reading level based solely on assessment data. In that case, the teacher can review this recommendation in conjunction with classroom observations and override it if necessary. Ensure students and families know how to request human review.

Document your decision-making process. This transparency fosters trust with families.

How SchoolAI supports accessibility compliance

Purpose-built education platforms like SchoolAI save you evaluation time by designing accessibility into their core architecture. The platform was built with WCAG 2.1 requirements in mind.

Students can adjust display modes, font sizes, and access translation in different languages directly within their learning spaces. Teachers can set up accommodations, such as extended time or text-to-speech preferences, that apply automatically when students enter a workspace. In contrast, students maintain control over their own accessibility settings.

Mission Control highlights patterns that may indicate emerging needs. The platform encrypts data during transfer and storage, adheres to FERPA and COPPA requirements, and manages student records according to your timeline, thereby reducing the need for additional compliance integrations.

Building sustainable accessibility practices

Thorough evaluation, technical audits, student testing, and privacy reviews ensure you can support every learner while meeting compliance requirements. Start with technical verification, test with real students, and keep improving.

When you get evaluation right, accessible AI creates genuine learning opportunities for all students. Investing in proper implementation yields dividends in student engagement, learning outcomes, and legal compliance.

For schools ready to implement accessibility-first AI tools, explore SchoolAI to see how built-in accessibility features can support diverse learning needs in your classroom.