In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a deaf student in Michigan could sue his school district for monetary damages after finding that the “school system neglected the boy and lied to his parents about the progress he was making…”

Also in 2023, the ACLU filed a lawsuit in Wayne County Circuit Court (Michigan) alleging “that the school district and the state have failed to do their job in ensuring students within the Highland Park School District can read at grade level.”

Hartford parents need to take notes.

As Hartford Public Schools advances students from one grade level to the next, this infers the students have made progress warranting that advancement. However, many students who are ‘pushed through’ are done so on the basis of ‘equity’ rather than academic progress. 

This results in, as teachers throughout HPS would report, situations such as 6th graders who are reading at a second-grade level.  This results in the district reporting a 74% graduation rate (2021-22, EdSight) while only 22% of 11th and 12th graders are “meeting benchmark” on the SAT, ACT, AP, or IB college readiness test.

HPS reports to parents that their child is beautiful and capable and getting a rigorous, top-notch education.  But the kid cannot read at grade or age level!

While this criminal practice props up the stats and the image of district leadership, it is creating the basis for a life of hardship for students.  What kind of success can a student entering the 6th grade expect if he/she/undecided has been ‘passed on’ the last 4 years while his/her/undecided reading level remains at the second-grade level?  What kind of success is HPS preparing graduating seniors for if they are allowing these kids to leave school with the academic ability of a junior high student?

Not only is the district preparing kids to be life-long members of the EBT club, but so too are they driving teachers from the district if not the profession itself.  Due to the ordered ‘no retention’ practices of district leadership, teachers are suffering the consequences of students, enabled by the lack of academic accountability, who fail to come to school, fail to be engaged in the classroom, and fail to put forth the effort needed to succeed academically, or, students that are simply not ready for the academic level at which they are placed.

While this is all hidden by district leadership, it is known to them, which makes it wanton negligence, which means that district leadership knows full well that their actions are harmful to students.  Recent comments from those working directly with district leadership, such as, “the district does not care about academics,” serve as evidence of the districts negligent malpractice.

Hartford chapters of the ACLU, NAACP, PTA, PTO, WWE, NBA, or whatever acronym exists on your ballcap, ought to coalesce around this one fundamental issue of criminal fraud and negligence and assist parents in seeking justice.  Martin Luther King, Jr. took his last breath seeking justice for those folks victimized and exploited by government leaders protecting their own agendas.  Hartford students and their parents need an MLK.