The right to read?

If you’re a public school student, and you aren’t reading at grade level, have you been denied an education?

The ACLU is suing the Highland Park (Michigan) school system because an independent test of some students found students’ reading proficiencies were four and eight grades below their current grade level, Michigan Public Radio reports.

The Detroit Free Press presents the disturbing numbers…

According to the Detroit Literacy Coalition, 47% of metro Detroiters are functionally illiterate, as are about 18% of Michigan residents. The ACLU said fewer than 10% of Highland Park students in third through eighth grades are proficient in reading and math, based on data gathered from the Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) scores.

By 11th grade, students are not doing any better, with fewer than 10% scoring proficient in reading and math.