The Michigan chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has until Dec. 5 to investigate whether the Highland Park school district is complying with a state law that requires individual intervention for students who aren’t reading at grade level.
The deadline was issued during a hearing in the Wayne County District Court last week related to the group’s class action “Right to Read” lawsuit against the 1,500-student district and the state.
The ACLU contends the district and state have failed to meet students’ academic needs. Fewer than 10 percent of the students in grades 3-8 passed state reading and math exams last year. A state law says schools must provide special assistance to those who do not pass state reading exams in grades 4 and 7.
In a motion to dismiss the case, the state said the literacy problem is being addressed.