HARTFORD, CT — Aleysha Ortiz, a 19-year-old honors graduate of Hartford Public High School, has filed a lawsuit against the Hartford Board of Education, the City of Hartford, and a former special education teacher, claiming she cannot read or write despite completing her education with distinction.
Ortiz, a native of Puerto Rico, graduated in June and received a scholarship to the University of Connecticut.
She now alleges the Hartford Public Schools system failed her for more than a decade, stating that she remains functionally illiterate after 12 years in the district.
“I decided, they [the school] had 12 years,” Ortiz said during a city council meeting. “Now it’s my time.”
The lawsuit, filed in state court, outlines a history of academic struggles beginning in first grade, where Ortiz reportedly had difficulty with “letter, sound and number recognition.” These early challenges, the complaint alleges, led to behavioral issues and a label as “the bad child.”
By sixth grade, Ortiz claims she was reading at a kindergarten or first-grade level.
The suit further states that when she entered Hartford Public High School, special education case manager Tilda Santiago was assigned to her but “bullied, harassed and stalked” her before being removed from the role.
Her mother, Carmen Cruz, who speaks limited English, attempted to advocate for her but faced language barriers.
“I didn’t know English very well, I didn’t know the rules of the schools,” Cruz told CNN.
According to the lawsuit, Ortiz began advocating for herself in 11th grade and was then referred for dyslexia testing.
The evaluation began just a month before graduation and concluded on her final day of high school, confirming that Ortiz is dyslexic and requires instruction in phonics, fluency, and reading comprehension.
She alleges the district offered her the option to defer receiving her diploma in exchange for additional support services.
Hartford Public Schools responded with a statement: “While Hartford Public Schools cannot comment on pending litigation, we remain deeply committed to meeting the full range of needs our students bring with them when they enter our schools — and helping them reach their full potential.”
Ortiz is seeking damages for alleged negligence and educational deprivation.
