A Connecticut college student has filed a lawsuit against the Hartford Board of Education and the City of Hartford, alleging that systemic negligence in the school district left her unable to read or write despite graduating with honors.
Aleysha Ortiz, 19, claims in her $3 million lawsuit that Hartford Public Schools failed to provide her with adequate educational support, pushing her through the system without addressing her significant learning disabilities. As a result, she alleges she is now functionally illiterate and struggling in college.
Allegations of Neglect in Education
Ortiz, who was born in Puerto Rico, moved to Connecticut with her family as a child.
She exhibited early developmental challenges, including difficulties recognizing letters, sounds, and numbers. Her mother, Carmen Cruz, who is not fluent in English, repeatedly sought answers from school officials but was allegedly met with inadequate responses.
Ortiz’s lawsuit states that by first grade, she showed clear signs of learning disabilities, including dyslexia, ADHD, and a speech impediment. Despite these challenges, the lawsuit claims she received little to no specialized instruction. Instead, Ortiz recalls being sidelined in classrooms, often told to “stay in a corner and sleep” or to draw pictures rather than engage in meaningful academic work.
“Every first day of school, I would tell the teacher I cannot read and write, so please be patient with me. So everyone knew,” Ortiz told local media outlet News 8.
A Graduation Without Literacy
By the time Ortiz reached sixth grade, school evaluations showed she was reading at a kindergarten or first-grade level. Despite this, she was promoted through each grade without proper interventions, according to the complaint.
Throughout high school, Ortiz relied on speech-to-text programs and other assistive technologies to complete assignments, but she alleges that these accommodations masked her literacy deficiencies rather than addressing them.
In her sophomore year at Hartford Public High School, she was assigned a special education teacher and case manager, Tilda Santiago. However, Ortiz claims in the lawsuit that instead of receiving structured support, she was humiliated and further neglected in her education.
Despite these setbacks, Ortiz graduated with honors in June 2023. However, upon entering college, she quickly realized she could not keep up with coursework due to her inability to read and write at a functional level.
Legal Claims and Implications
Ortiz’s lawsuit accuses the Hartford Board of Education of gross negligence and failure to provide the federally mandated educational support required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
The suit alleges the school district violated her rights by failing to implement an appropriate Individualized Education Program (IEP) and by promoting her through the system without addressing her fundamental academic needs.
Legal experts note that if Ortiz’s claims are substantiated, this case could have significant implications for public school accountability and special education compliance. The Hartford Board of Education has not yet issued a public response to the lawsuit.
Ortiz is seeking $3 million in damages, stating that her current academic struggles and future opportunities have been severely impacted by the district’s alleged negligence.
