Recommended for grades 9-12
Left Behind tells the powerful story of a group of passionate mothers who unite to create the first public dyslexic school in New York City, the largest school district in the country.
Approximately 200,000 New York City public school students are dyslexic, yet there is no public initiative that provides the specialized skill and care necessary for these learners. Frustrated that they had to remove their own kids from the public school system, a group of determined moms band together to do something that’s never been done before—open New York City’s first public school for dyslexic students. The journey is not a smooth ride, and they face both institutional and personal hurdles as they try to upend a system.
A new mayoral candidate bolsters their fight after he reveals his own dyslexia. But will they be able to convince a bureaucratic education system to overhaul outdated politics to ensure a brighter future for the city’s dyslexic youth?
Consider this documentary film if you are exploring topics of activism, literacy, or education.
This film has Open Captions available if needed.
