Connecticut Student Sues School District Over Illiteracy Despite Honors Diploma

Aleysha Ortiz, a 19-year-old graduate from Hartford Public High School, is suing the Hartford Board of Education, the City of Hartford, and her former special education case manager, Tilda Santiago, for allegedly failing to provide her with adequate education despite her graduation with honors. Ortiz, who claims to be illiterate and unable to read or write, argues that systemic failures allowed her to progress through 12 years of school without proper support for her learning disabilities. Her mother, Carmen Cruz, struggled to advocate for her due to language barriers, which compounded Ortiz's challenges. The lawsuit alleges that Santiago bullied and harassed Ortiz instead of providing necessary assistance and that significant delays in testing for dyslexia hindered her educational progress. Ortiz's experience highlights concerns about educational neglect within the public school system, particularly for students with learning disabilities. Hartford Public Schools stated they are committed to meeting the needs of all students, but they could not comment on the ongoing litigation.