McMahon Points to DEI in Case of Hartford Student Who Graduated Without Reading Skills

October 22, 2026 - 00:39

Aleysha Ortiz graduated from a Hartford public high school in 2024, but she did so without knowing how to read, a fact that has drawn national attention since she filed a lawsuit against the district. Now Linda McMahon, the former head of the Small Business Administration and a Connecticut native, is weighing in on what she believes went wrong, placing blame on diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in schools.

McMahon argued that DEI initiatives have shifted focus away from core academic instruction and toward other priorities, leaving students like Ortiz without the fundamental skills they need. She said the case is a clear sign that accountability in education has eroded, and that schools should be measured by whether students can actually read, write, and do math.

Ortiz has said she passed through the Hartford school system for years without anyone addressing her inability to read, and her lawsuit claims the district failed to provide her with an appropriate education. The case has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over how schools are run and what role DEI programs play in shaping classroom priorities.

McMahon's comments add a political dimension to a story that is already raising hard questions about how a student could advance through an entire school career without basic literacy. Supporters of DEI programs pushed back, saying the issues in Hartford are about resource gaps and administrative failures, not equity efforts.