Two high school graduates who say they are illiterate are suing their respective public school systems, claiming they are not given the free public education they are entitled to.
William A. Jacobson, professor of Cornell Law School, is director of the Securities Law Clinic, told Fox News Digital that the lawsuit refers to a “more deeper problem” in the American public school system.
“I think these cases reflect deeper issues in education. Each of these cases has probably tens of thousands of students who have never received a proper education. “Unfortunately… we created incentives, especially in the public school system.
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“A 13-year-old has the lowest score in decades in mathematics and reading,” the White House said in a fact sheet released Thursday. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)
“The US Department of Education has been around since 1979. 3 trillion dollars There is very little to show that, “I read the fact sheet.” It has increased There were virtually no measurable improvements to student achievement by more than 245% over that period. Mathematics and reading scores for 13 years old The lowest level in decades. …10 seventh and eighth graders. Not skilled In reading, 40% of fourth graders do not even meet the basic reading level. ”
Tennessee State Litigation
A judge in the Court of Appeals recently sided with Tennessee student William A., who found that the student was denied free public education that qualifies for individuals with the Disability Education Act (IDEA).
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A Clarksville, Tennessee student alleges in the lawsuit that he was denied free public education because he was dyslexia and was unable to teach him how to read and write. (istock)
“William graduated from high school without even reading his name,” wrote Circuit Judge Raymond Kesledge at discretion. “That was because, according to his IEP terms, he relied on many accommodations that hid what he couldn't read.”
To write the paper, William talks the topic to Speech-Text Software, pastes the words into an AI app like Chat-GPT, and “generates a paper on that topic,” Ketledge explained. William then pastes the text into his document and “runs that paper through another software program like that reflects the proper writing style.”
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William A. completed his classwork using an artificial intelligence (AI) app like Chat-GPT. (istock)
Afflicted with severe dyslexia, William went through 12 years of public education under an independent education program (IEP), never learning to read or write, and graduated with a 3.4 GPA.
“This child can't read.”
When William was in the ninth grade in 2020, a special education teacher told the school psychologist, “[p]Look at Reese William [A]. I'm very worried. ”
The teacher said, “This child cannot read,” according to the lawsuit.
Aerial view of downtown Clarksville, Tennessee. (istock)
The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS) in Tennessee said, “Knowing that he couldn't read, he passed him, created an artificial 11th GPA, and by the end of 11th grade, he placed William on the path to a regular educational diploma, despite his lack of basic reading skills.”
CMCSS told Fox News Digital it had not commented on the pending lawsuit.
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“By March 2023, William had not consistently been able to spell his first name and last name while signing the IEP. In June 2023, William's own writing sample showed he was unable to write more than 31 words in three minutes.
Connecticut Litigation
In a similar lawsuit from Connecticut, a high school alumni named Aleisha Ortiz claims she experienced long-standing public education in Hartford County with learning disabilities and IEP without teaching her how to read or write.
“I think these cases reflect deeper issues in education,” said William Jacobson, professor at Cornell Law School. (istock)
Not only did Ortiz graduate from the honors, but according to the complaint, he was enrolled at the University of Connecticut.
Ortiz claims in her grievance that her reading and writing skills have not been addressed properly, but has been bullied as “socially and emotionally younger than her age.”
Aleysha Ortiz filed a lawsuit against the Hartford County Board of Education in December 2024. (istock)
Like William, Ortiz “used assistive technology to help her read and write and took tireless oaths at school,” the complaint states.
“She told them she was worried that she wasn't ready for college…”
“In May 2024, the plaintiff reported to her litigation manager and PPT that she had planned to be accepted after graduation and attend the University of Connecticut,” the complaint states. “She told them she was worried that she wasn't prepared for the university and refused to allow proper testing, so she couldn't make the necessary accommodations at the university a success.”
“Since 1979, the US Department of Education has spent over $3 trillion and there's little to show that,” according to a White House fact sheet. (Pictures Ltd./Corbis via Getty Images)
Ortiz was concerned that her primary school-level reading and writing skills “will affect her ability to succeed in college.”[t]T wasn't about a month before graduation. [Hartford Board of Education] He agreed to carry out additional testing that the plaintiffs had requested. ”
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Hartford School Board lawyers did not respond to Fox News Digital.
“Deeper problems”
Jacobson told Fox News Digital that he was “fairly involved” with teachers and school districts and was “entangled between various troops that oppose each other.”
“On the other hand, there is often money tied to performance, and if students don't move students forward, it could affect the funds the district has gained,” he explained. “We have individual students with parents… we want to make sure they don't fail, and there's a lot of pressure there.”
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Cornell law professor William Jacobson said the two lawsuits underline the larger issues regarding the American public education system. (istock)
an The number of students in public schools is increasing There is an IEP. This means that more students have individualized learning programs that teachers who are already overwhelmed by the shortage of employees across the country must meet the law.
“This is a real problem and it fails to the heart of our education system.”
“Obviously, it varies from district to district,” Jacobson said. “Some people have totally good intentions. Some may not have good intentions, but they just want to get along.”
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The Cornell Law professor has not seen AI go anywhere in the future of education, but he says, “We have to be very strict that AI doesn't notify students, not actually make them stupid.”
A student in a classroom working on a laptop. (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)
Additionally, Jacobson said parents need to focus on helping their children read and write.
“I think parents will be more focused on helping students and children learn, rather than worrying about their next lawsuit,” he said. “It may be a bit unrealistic because we are in a culture that seeks to cash out lawsuits, but how does our energy appeal to students?”
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Justin Gilbert, a lawyer representing William A, wrote in Fox News Digital, “[w]Up to 20% of US students suffering from dyslexia, William's case is reinforcing the need for dyslexic-trained teachers. ”
“Most of us take reading for granted, but moving outside the 'reading window' in elementary school makes it much more difficult to learn to read,” Gilbert said. “This is especially true for students with dyslexia. The William case is a tragic, but it is a reminder of the need to raise awareness of dyslexia in public schools.”
