LGL’s DORA Dyslexia Screener (DS)
An online universal screener for K-3 students
DORA DS is the front-end of DORA, our evidence-based reading diagnostic assessment.
- Provides early identification of students who may be at risk of experiencing reading difficulties
- At risk students can then take DORA, our granular reading diagnostic assessment.
- Takes just 10 – 15 minutes and does not require teacher proctoring
- Provides real-time reporting
- Available as either an English or Spanish screener
Letter Identification Example
The screener identifies students with difficulties identifying letters of the alphabet. For example, during the screening process, a student hears,“Click on the letter E.” Students then select the letter E from the choices.
Phonemic Awareness Example
Our screening tool analyzes phonemic awareness skills important in the development of foundational reading skills. For example, the student hears, “Combine the sounds /d/ /o/ /g/. What word did you hear?” The faces on screen wiggle and the student clicks each one to listen to a different word. The student then clicks the face that had the audio that blended the phonemes correctly.
Dexterity Test
As part of our screening process, DORA DS provides a short bubble-popping test. This allows us to identify false low scores for students who may not be developmentally ready to follow online instructions.
“To support universal reading literacy, we designed DORA DS to give teachers a diagnostic evaluation of gaps in early reading skills that may be indicators of dyslexia. Our screener is appropriate for Kindergarteners, 1st grade students, 2nd grade students, and 3rd grade students. With over 20 years of experience in reading diagnosis and personalized instruction, we know that overcoming dyslexia requires early identification and intervention.”
—Richard Capone
CEO and Co-founder
Let’s Go Learn’s Commitment to Universal Literacy
Since 2000, Let’s Go Learn is committed to developing online programs that support universal literacy in K-12 reading and mathematics.
DORA DS is the result of 20+ years of research-based computer-adaptive experience. Our goal with DORA DS is to provide teachers with a quick, easy tool for universal screening. We understand that early intervention is key to catching children before they fall.
Why Are Early Screening and Intervention Essential?
What is the definition of dyslexia? What do the experts say?
Dyslexia is the most ubiquitous form of neuro-cognitive disorders. It affects approximately 15-20% of the US student population. 68% of children with an IEP are dyslexic students.
“…Dyslexia is an unexpected difficulty in reading in an individual who has the intelligence to be a much better reader. While people with dyslexia are slow readers, they often, paradoxically, are very fast and creative thinkers with strong reasoning abilities.”
—Dr. Sally Shaywitz, The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity
How big is the problem?
The most recent results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress for US 4th graders indicate that many have severe reading difficulties. NAEP scores are comprised of Below Basic, Basic, Proficient, and Advanced.
- 65% of 4th grade students are not at grade-level in reading skills.
- 34% of students are Below Basic.
- 31% of students are at Basic (partial mastery of prerequisite and proficient grade-level reading skills).
- Only 36% of students are at Proficient (demonstrated reading competency at grade level).
- Only 9% of students are at Advanced (superior performance at grade level).
Academic Consequences for Struggling Readers
Elementary school, middle school, and high school students who do not reach grade-level reading proficiency may suffer mild to profound difficulties. If not proficient in reading by the end of 3rd grade, Fewer than 12% finish four years of college. They are also more likely to:
- Struggle across all content areas, including science and math
- Experience issues with school discipline and attendance
- Drop out of high school at 4 times the rate of proficient readers
Socio-Economic Consequences of Dyslexia
A diagnosis of dyslexia that is not addressed has far-reaching personal and socio-economic consequences. It increases the likelihood of:
- “low self-esteem, behavior problems, anxiety, aggression, and withdrawal from friends, parents, and teachers” (Mayo Clinic)
- ending up in the criminal justice system and living in poverty (D. Ankey)
Note: The Boston Consulting Group found that in 2020 alone, dyslexia and its consequences cost California an estimated 12 billion. Early screening and teacher training “would provide an astonishing 800% to 2000% return.”
Early Identification Allows
Early Intervention
With early intervention and support, students can overcome dyslexia and go on to fulfill their academic and lifetime dreams.
DORA DS Screens for Key Indicators of Early Reading Readiness and Proficiency
As required by most State Education Departments, DORA DS screens a child’s early reading performance in the following areas:
- Phonemic awareness and phonological awareness
- Sound-symbol and symbol-sound recognition
- Alphabetic knowledge
- Decoding of real and nonsense words
- Automatic naming of letters, digits, objects, and colors
Limitations of most
dyslexia screeners
Most dyslexia screeners are available only in print. Those that have partial digital implementations such as Shaywitz Dyslexia Screener present administration challenges or interpretation of special scoring options.
- Print screeners may take 3-4 hours to administer
- Most require teacher training or a professional administrator
- Reporting by ed tech company may take weeks to reach the district
Advantages of Early Screening of Dyslexia with
Online DORA DS
DORA DS was designed with the educator and the student in mind.
- Takes about 10-15 minutes to administer
- Uses adaptive logic to maximize validity and minimize test anxiety
- Ensures social equity with a scores for all students in the key indicators
- Provides automatic real-time analysis and valid reporting at the sub-test level for district teachers and administrators
- Includes a mouse dexterity test to control for test-taking bias
Universal Screening for
RTI and MTSS
Both RTI and MTSS programs require universal screeners.
DORA DS provides a state of the art dyslexia screening assessment.
After automatic administration of DORA DS, administrators and teachers can take advantage of LGL’s full-solution supplemental online reading program.
- DORA K-12 Diagnostic Reading Assessment
- DORA Phonemic Awareness
- DORA Spanish/EDELL
- LGL ELA/Reading Edge Data-Driven Instruction
Join our CEO to get an overview of different types of assessments.
Common Questions
Can I use the full DORA reading assessment instead of DORA DS? What are the differences?
How does DORA DS compare to the screeners of other companies?
How does DORA DS compare to most print dyslexia screeners?
Can you recommend resources for learning more about dyslexia?
- Center on Multi-Tiered System of Supports: https://mtss4success.org/essential-components/screening
- The Children’s Reading Foundation: https://www.readingfoundation.org/the-impac
- Dyslexia Help University of Michigan: http://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/
- Dyslexia, Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dyslexia/symptoms-causes/syc-20353552https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dyslexia/symptoms-causes/syc-20353552
- National Center for Education and Statistics: https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/reading/
- NAEP Report Card for: Reading: https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/reading/states/achievement/?grade=4
- RTI Action Network: http://www.rtinetwork.org/learn/research/universal-screening-within-a-rti-model
- Dr. Sally Shaywitz, Overcoming Dyslexia, 2nd ed.
- The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity: https://dyslexia.yale.edu/
- “Three important reasons why we can’t ignore early literacy,” Reading Partners, https://readingpartners.org/blog/three-important-reasons-cant-ignore-early-literacy/
- “The economic impact of dyslexia on California,” The Boston Consulting Group. https://media-publications.bcg.com/The-Economic-Impact-of-Dyslexia-on-California-Whitepaper-Final.pdf
- Correlation between Dyslexia and Criminal Behavior, D. Ankney. https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2019/aug/6/correlation-between-dyslexia-and-criminal-behavior-first-step-act-require-screening-treatment/