Accessibility Statement

TIMSS & PIRLS is committed to ensuring our website, digital content, and publications are accessible to everyone, regardless of technology. In alignment with the European Accessibility Act (EAA), we are actively working to make our website accessible and user-friendly for all.

Despite our best efforts to ensure the accessibility of the TIMSS & PIRLS website, we are aware of some limitations, which we are working to fix. In this statement, a description of known limitations and planned solutions are outlined. Please contact us if you encounter an issue not listed below.

What We’ve Done So Far

The TIMSS & PIRLS website is currently partially compliant with technical standard EN 301 549 v.3.2.1 and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. As a result, you should be able to:

  • Adjust text size and zoom up to 200% without problems
  • Navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
  • Use a screen reader to browse most of the website

If this is not the case, please contact us using the contact information below.

We have taken a number of steps to improve digital accessibility across our website, including:

  • Conducting internal reviews and automated testing to identify and address barriers to accessibility
  • Adding alternative text to some visual content
  • Ensuring sufficient color contrast and keyboard navigability
  • Adding invisible labels (ARIA attributes) to interactive elements such as buttons and social media links so that screen readers can identify icons and navigation controls accurately

Known Accessibility Limitations

Despite these efforts, we are aware that some parts of our website and digital content may not yet be fully accessible. These may include:

  • Older PDF documents may lack tagging or structured reading order
  • Alt text missing on some visual content, for example, the homepage banner image
  • Incomplete captions or transcripts for some legacy video content

We are currently addressing these limitations as part of a phased accessibility improvement plan that will conclude in June 2026. If you encounter content that is not accessible, we are happy to provide it in an alternative format (e.g., accessible PDF, Word document, or HTML). Simply reach out using the contact information below.

TIMSS & PIRLS is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for all users, including individuals with disabilities. We are continuously working to enhance both accessibility and usability of our digital publications and to adhere to the relevant accessibility standards and legislation, including the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA.

Measures to Support Accessibility

To ensure accessibility of TIMSS & PIRLS education publications, we take the following measures:

  • Integrate accessibility considerations into our digital publication workflows from the design stage onward.
  • Use structured content formats that support screen readers and other assistive technologies.
  • Provide alternative text for images, tables, and figures where applicable.
  • Ensure sufficient color contrast and readable font sizes for visual clarity.
  • Maintain keyboard navigability and logical reading order in digital formats.
  • Conduct regular accessibility reviews and audits using automated tools and manual testing.

Compliance Status

TIMSS & PIRLS education publications are currently partially compliant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA and EN 301 549 standards. Partial compliance means that while most content meets accessibility standards, some parts may not yet fully conform.

Known limitations include:

  • E-publications missing alternative text
  • PDFs and e-publications not incorporating proper tagging

We are actively working to address remaining accessibility gaps and improve our publications over time. All e-publications that will be published from July 2025 onward endeavor to meet accessibility compliance.

Feedback and Contact Information

We value your input and are continuously working to improve. If you experience any accessibility barriers on our site or in our materials, please contact us using the information provided below. We aim to respond to accessibility-related requests within 10 business days.

E-mail: timssandpirls@bc.edu
Phone: +1-617-552-1600