Article VIII § 2
The legislature shall maintain and support a system of free public elementary and secondary schools as defined by law. Every school district shall provide for the education of its pupils without discrimination as to religion, creed, race, color or national origin.
Providing for education is long way from saying literacy is required. No one can be required to be literate and not all people are capable of it. The state cannot make a child literate. That’s up to the child and the parents.
Providing an education, or the opportunity to learn does not mean people choose to avail themselves of it. There are so many students who go to school, spend the day messaging on their phone, socialize and disrupt the learning of the kids who really want to learn. Third and fourth generation welfare recipients see little value in education and do not understand the connection between study and later work success. They have never known anyone that worked. You don’t need to learn to be able to get a check.