Graduate from Connecticut High School Can’t Read: Where Did the System Fail?
Aleysha Ortiz, a Hartford Public Schools graduate, is suing the City of Hartford, the Board of Education, and a former special education teacher, alleging years of neglect and mistreatment left her unable to read or write upon graduation.
Ortiz, who moved from Puerto Rico to Connecticut as a child, struggled with dyslexia, ADHD, a speech impediment, and a language barrier. Despite repeatedly requesting support, she claims the district failed to provide proper educational resources.
Instead of receiving help, Ortiz alleges she was bullied, harassed, and emotionally mistreated by both students and staff. Her lawsuit specifically names Tilda Santiago, a special education case manager, accusing her of publicly humiliating and belittling her.
Legal documents state that Ortiz frequently ran to other teachers in tears, yet no action was taken. With no institutional support, Ortiz taught herself—using audio recordings and Talk-to-Text applications to complete assignments. She eventually raised her grades and graduated but describes the experience as deeply painful. Now, Ortiz is determined to advocate for change so other students don’t experience the same failures in the education system. She has been accepted to UConn and plans to focus on special education policy and advocacy.
