Screening Services
Screening Services
The term “screening” includes a broad array of tests that provide a snapshot of overall development. Among its uses, screenings can help determine if a student is on track or if a specialist should complete a formal evaluation. Screening procedures can be useful for students as young as kindergarten and continuing through adulthood.
The HRS Learning Center offers two types of screenings:
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STAR CBM Screening: A quick, normative screening, approved by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) as “an assessment tool to detect signs of dyslexia or other reading difficulties” (Grades K-5). Students in grades 2-5 may qualify for free STAR screening through the Literacy Link program. To find more details, click on the Literacy Link tab at the top of this page.
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Slingerland® Screening: A comprehensive assessment used to gain insight about student strengths and weakness in the auditory, visual, and kinesthetic cognitive processing areas, as well as the degree to which working memory may contribute to the student’s challenges in each of these areas (pre-readers through early high school)
Star CBM Screening
Washington State law requires all public school students in grades K–2 to be screened for signs of dyslexia or other reading difficulties. OSPI and Washington's Dyslexia Advisory Council have approved Star CBM (Renaissance) as one of the state’s accepted screening tools.
The HRS Learning Center offers Star CBM assessments to students who may not have access to mandatory screening or who may have missed screening based on current grade level (grades K-5). Hamlin Robinson School screening staff are experienced and well equipped to administer the assessment and offer a short conference regarding the computer-generated test report.
Student scores are compared against national normative measures. It is important to remember STAR is a diagnostic tool that offers a snapshot of student knowledge. Test scores can be influenced by outside factors: stress, hunger, and tiredness. Standardized screening is not intended to capture the full range of student growth, knowledge, persistence, ability, and potential.
Additional information:
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Parents will need to connect with HRS Learning Center staff to provide student information and determine age-appropriate subtests.
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Administration of screening, including transitions between test segments, takes 30-45 minutes and is conducted at the HRS Learning Center.
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Family reports and post-test video-conferences with parents can generally be scheduled 48 hours after the completion of screening. Families will receive a scores and norms report, along with a 15-minute conference to discuss the results and resource recommendations.
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The cost of the STAR Screening is $150. (Due prior to screening. No refunds once screening begins.) King County students in grades 2-5 may also qualify for free STAR screening through the Literacy Link program. Click on the Literacy Link tab at the top of this webpage to find out more.
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Questions and requests for screening appointments can be made to the Learning Center team at learningcenter@hamlinrobinson.org
Slingerland® Screening
The HRS Learning Center utilizes the Slingerland® Screening Procedures, developed by the Slingerland® Literacy Institute, to help identify a student’s language-based learning strengths and weaknesses as an indicator of instructional needs. While the Slingerland® Screening is not a nationally normed device and does not provide a diagnosis of a specific learning disability, it is used throughout the U.S. to gain insight about student strengths and weakness in the auditory, visual, and kinesthetic cognitive processing areas, as well as the degree to which working memory may contribute to the student’s challenges in each of these areas.
The HRS Learning Center’s Certified Slingerland® Screeners have been specifically trained in the administration, evaluation, and analysis of Slingerland® Screening results, which can help to identify visual, auditory, or kinesthetic modality weaknesses – or weaknesses with integration between these modalities – which, in turn, may be an underlying cause of a student’s challenges in acquiring language skills related to reading, spelling, handwriting, and written expression.
Additional information:
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Administration of screening takes between 90-150 minutes. Two appointments may be needed for optimal results.
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Prior to screening, parents/guardians will be asked to complete a questionnaire and provide any relevant educational or evaluative documentation.
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Written reports and reviews with the screening administrator are generally available 7-10 working days from the completion of screening.
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The cost of the Slingerland® Screening is $525.00 (Due prior to screening. No refunds once screening begins).
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The amount of $200.00 will be assessed for a missed screening appointment with less than 24 hours’ notice.
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Questions and requests for screening appointments can be made to the Learning Center Director: Edward Alvarran at ealvarran@hamlinrobinson.org
Click here for a document with more detailed information about Slingerland® Screening.
Literacy Link - Students
For approximately 20% of the general population, struggling in school can be linked to a language-based learning difference, such as dyslexia. However, early diagnosis of dyslexia is often limited to students whose families know how to advocate for screening and/or have the financial means to afford diagnostic evaluations. Access to screening is an equity issue.
In 2023, Hamlin Robinson School received a community grant from Pitch Your Peers (Seattle). This grant supports our efforts, beginning in September 2024, to offer FREE literacy screening services to King County students in grades 2-5 through the HRS Learning Center. The screening used – STAR Early Literacy Screening – is available in English and Spanish and offers national normative information. Because STAR is accepted by the state of WA as an official screening tool, results are actionable in the public education system. Hamlin Robinson School has utilized STAR Assessments for many years, and screening administrators are trained in reporting and offering guidance to families.
This initiative is a proactive response to the critical need for early identification of students with language-based learning differences, beyond the state required screening for K-2 students in Washington public schools. By offering these screenings, along with an actionable report to parents/guardians, students are more likely to receive timely intervention, learning support, and accommodations.
Who is Hamlin Robinson School?
The mission of Hamlin Robinson School (HRS) is to ignite the academic and creative potential of students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences. Founded in 1983, we are an independent school accredited by the National Association for Independent Schools.
Hamlin Robinson School believes equitable access to an educational program ensuring student success should be a right afforded to all students, not a privilege for a few. Students attend HRS from over 70 Washington zip codes, with families often choosing our school due to an inability to find a local, effective instructional program. HRS prides itself on supporting the marginalized communities of students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences so that they have an equitable opportunity to succeed academically and in life beyond school.
What is the HRS Learning Center?
The HRS Learning Center is the community outreach component of Hamlin Robinson School. The HRS Learning Center extends the school’s expertise and provides a resource and service hub for students, families, educators, and community members. Since its inception in 2012, the Learning Center has served students across Puget Sound through in-person and virtual educational services such as Tutoring, Screening, Test Prep, HRS Summer Academy and Social Skills classes. The Learning Center also offers parent and educator workshops, our nationally/internationally viewed HRS Speaker Series, and the HRS Community Library. To learn more about the HRS Learning Center and its programs, please visit the homepage here.
What is Literacy Screening?
The term “screening” includes a broad array of tests that provide a snapshot of a student’s overall development. Among its uses, a screening can help determine if a student is on track or would benefit from additional instructional support with specific learning targets. A screening is often a precursor to a formal evaluation. Please note that the literacy screener used in the Literacy Link program is a non-diagnostic risk screener. Literacy Screening can identify indicators of dyslexia and should not be used as a diagnosis.
How to sign up for the Literacy Link Screening Program
- Step # 1 Complete the Inquiry Form Below
- Step #2 Schedule and Attend a Screening Appointment
- Step #3 Review the Results and Discuss Next Steps
Step # 1 Complete the Inquiry Form Below
Step #2 Schedule and Attend a Screening Appointment
Once your Inquiry Form has been reviewed and approved, HRS Learning Center staff will reach out regarding the next steps. Parents and guardians will have the opportunity to select from an available screening site and a date and time.
On the day of the appointment, parents and guardians will bring their students to the screening site. Screening will be administered by trained HRS faculty and staff. Screenings usually take approximately one hour.
Step #3 Review the Results and Discuss Next Steps
Literacy Link – Educators
For approximately 20% of the general population, struggling in school can be linked to a language-based learning difference, such as dyslexia. However, early diagnosis of dyslexia is often limited to students whose families know how to advocate for screening and/or have the financial means to afford diagnostic evaluations. Access to screening is an equity issue.
In 2023, Hamlin Robinson School received a community grant from Pitch Your Peers (Seattle). This grant supports our efforts, beginning in September 2024, to offer FREE literacy screening services to King County students in grades 2-5 through the HRS Learning Center. Hamlin Robinson School utilizes Renaissance’s STAR Assessments to evaluate foundational literacy skills across various grade levels, ensuring personalized and effective instruction tailored to each student’s needs. Our extensive experience with these assessments enables us to provide families with detailed insights into their child's progress and areas for growth.
Through the PYP grant, HRS also has the resources to share its expertise with other educators through free training workshops. Upcoming workshops will equip educators with information and practical skills for identifying struggling students through the STAR Early Literacy Screening used at many public elementary schools and having a toolkit to support them.
Free workshops will offer participating educators the chance to:
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Explore the characteristics and myths of dyslexia
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Learn more about screening assessment tools and methodologies
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Develop strategies for administrating and interpreting literacy screening assessments
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Build strategies for developing support and follow-up plans for students after screening
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Explore effective instructional techniques tailored for learners with dyslexia
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Create a more inclusive classroom environment
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Contextualize engagement with parents and caregivers as they support students’ learning journeys
Please join us for a free workshop, "When Students Struggle With Reading: How to Understand, Assess, and Support Struggling and Dyslexic Readers," on Saturday, March 15, 2025. Register below.