Connecticut Teen Sues High School for Failing to Provide Proper Education
A 19-year-old woman from Connecticut, Aleysha Ortiz, has filed a lawsuit against her former high school, alleging that the institution failed her academically by allowing her to graduate with honors despite her severe literacy struggles.
Ortiz, who graduated from Hartford Public High School in June 2024 with an honors diploma and even secured a college scholarship, is now suing the school for negligent infliction of emotional distress. She claims that she was denied a proper education and was pushed through the system despite her inability to read or write at a functional level.
A Broken Education System?
Ortiz asserts that her reading ability is comparable to that of a first-grader and that she struggles even to hold a pencil properly. Born in Puerto Rico, she showed early signs of learning difficulties, which persisted after moving to the United States at the age of five. However, according to her lawsuit, the school and her assigned special education teacher failed to provide her with the support she needed.
It wasn’t until a month before her graduation that additional testing finally confirmed she was functionally illiterate. At that point, school officials offered her an option: she could defer her diploma and receive intensive support services. However, Ortiz declined the offer, stating:
“They had 12 years. Now it’s my time.”
How Did She Graduate with Honors?
Ortiz’s case raises serious concerns about the education system. If she could barely read or write, how did she graduate with honors? And even more puzzling—how was she accepted into the University of Connecticut?
She credits modern technology for helping her navigate through high school and even submit her college applications. Using text-to-speech and speech-to-text apps, Ortiz managed to complete assignments and exams, essentially bypassing her inability to read and write proficiently.
However, the transition to university life has been overwhelming. Ortiz admitted that she has been struggling academically and stopped attending classes in early February to focus on her mental health. Despite these challenges, she remains determined to succeed.
“I’m a passionate person, and I love to learn. People took that opportunity away from me. Now that I’m in college, I want to take full advantage of my education.”
Holding the School Accountable
Through her lawsuit, Ortiz hopes to hold school officials accountable for what she describes as a failure of the education system. She believes that many educators and administrators neglect their responsibilities and wants to prevent other students from facing the same situation.
“Some school officials don’t know what they’re doing, and they don’t care,” she stated.
Ortiz’s legal battle could spark a nationwide conversation about how students with learning disabilities are supported—or neglected—within the public school system.
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SOURCE : DEW360.NET
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