New White Paper from Sora Highlights Shift Toward Independent Reading for Multilingual Learners

Research from Sora and Instructure highlights how student-controlled, multimodal tools turn literacy assistance into a pathway for long-term growth

Key Findings from the Report

• Supports should fade as skills develop: Digital reading supports should be flexible and student-controlled, allowing students to rely on them less as their skills grow.
• Multimodal tools can make grade-level text more accessible: Audio, pronunciation, visuals, and other supports give students multiple pathways into complex texts.
• First-language literacy is an asset: Translanguaging allows students to draw on literacy strategies and knowledge developed in their first language as they develop English.
• Technology should supplement instruction: Digital tools can provide on-demand support while giving educators insight into students' reading behaviors.

CLEVELAND - Sept. 15 - As school districts work to address persistent reading challenges, new research points to a shift in how multilingual learners (MLLs) are supported: rather than relying on permanent accommodations, schools can use flexible, student-controlled scaffolds that help students access challenging texts while building the skills to become more independent readers.

A new white paper, From Dependency to Independence-Rethinking Reading Supports for Multilingual Learners, examines the research behind this approach and how digital reading environments can support it. The report was co-authored by Sora, the award-winning student reading app by OverDrive, and Instructure, the leading learning ecosystem and maker of Canvas LMS.

The research comes at a critical time. The 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results show eighth-grade reading scores declining nationwide, with Hispanic eighth graders experiencing a notable five-point drop and English learners remaining disproportionately represented among the nation's lowest-performing students. The white paper argues that solving this requires more than adding support-effective scaffolds must grant access to grade-level content while letting students decide when and how much assistance they need.

Research Points to a New Model for MLL Reading Support

Drawing on research from leading scholars, the paper outlines core principles for MLL literacy design:

• Build independence: Supports should grant access to complex texts without stripping agency away from the student.
• Provide multimodal access: Text paired with audio, visual aids, and pronunciation supports creates flexible pathways into complex content.
• Honor native language strengths: First-language literacy strategies transfer directly to English acquisition. Translanguaging allows students to leverage their full linguistic repertoire.
• Acknowledge academic language timelines: While conversational English develops relatively quickly, academic language proficiency can take five to seven years or more to build.
• Support classroom instruction: On-demand digital tools complement teachers by offering real-time analytics on student engagement and reading habits.

In practice, platforms like Sora allow students to activate definitions, translations, and read-alongs when encountering unfamiliar text, while multilingual titles and search options respect existing linguistic strengths.

"Multilingual learners need access to the same rich, challenging reading experiences as their peers, along with the right supports to help them engage successfully," said Renee Davenport, Vice President of Education for Sora. "The goal is not to remove every challenge from reading. It is to give students the tools to navigate challenges independently, build confidence, and gradually rely less on those supports."

Download the complete report: From Dependency to Independence-Rethinking Reading Supports for Multilingual Learners to explore the research and recommendations in full.

About OverDrive

OverDrive is a mission-based company that supports libraries and schools. Named Certified B Corp in 2017, OverDrive serves more than 83,000 libraries and schools in 115 countries with the industry's largest digital catalog of eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, video and other content. Award-winning apps and services include the Libby library reading app, the Sora student reading app, the Kanopy video streaming app, and TeachingBooks. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, Ohio USA. www.overdrive.com