Relay Reader
Product by ETS
Facts checked: Not yet checked
Our take (not a Learning Standard rating). This label applies to learning-science judgments throughout this overview.
Our take (not a Learning Standard rating)
Relay Reader effectively leverages modeled reading and self-monitoring to build oral fluency, but its overall efficacy remains pending evaluation by The Learning Standard. By alternating turns with a fluent virtual partner, it reduces cognitive load, though it lacks explicit phonics instruction or active comprehension checks.
Pros
- Employs modeled reading by providing a fluent virtual partner to demonstrate proper pacing and prosody.
- Builds reading stamina by alternating paragraphs, effectively managing the user's cognitive load.
- Enables self-monitoring through audio recordings, allowing learners to reflect on their own reading fluency.
- Offers access to full-length literary texts rather than fragmented, out-of-context passages.
Cons
- Lacks explicit comprehension checks to verify the reader understands the text.
- Provides no real-time corrective feedback on pronunciation or decoding errors.
- Does not include systematic phonics instruction for struggling early readers.
- Relies entirely on public domain classics which may lack modern vocabulary and culturally relevant contexts.
What Do We Know About Relay Reader?
Relay Reader serves as an effective supplemental tool for building oral fluency, but it does not replace comprehensive reading instruction. This app focuses entirely on reading aloud. Your child takes turns reading passages from classic literature with a virtual narrator. This method, known in learning science as modeled or paired reading, helps your child hear what fluent reading sounds like immediately before trying it themselves. It naturally breaks demanding texts into manageable chunks, preventing the fatigue that often causes struggling readers to quit.
Because the app records your child's voice, it encourages self-reflection. They can listen back and hear their own pacing and expression. However, you must understand what this app omits. It will not teach your child how to decode new words, nor will it correct them if they mispronounce a word while recording. It also lacks quizzes or questions to test if your child actually understands the plot. Because The Learning Standard has not yet officially evaluated Relay Reader, we recommend using it alongside tools that provide explicit phonics and comprehension practice. Use it specifically to build stamina and confidence in readers who already know the basics but need practice reading smoothly.
How Does Relay Reader Work?
Relay Reader uses a paired reading pedagogy where the learner alternates reading segments of text out loud with a fluent virtual partner. The interface presents a digital book on the screen. The app begins by playing an audio recording of a skilled narrator reading the first section. This models correct pronunciation, pacing, and prosody. When the narrator finishes, the app prompts the user to read the next section aloud.
The device's microphone records the user's turn. Once the user finishes their segment, the virtual partner takes over again. This relay process continues until the chapter or story is complete. Users can pause the text at any time. After a session, the learner can play back their recorded sections to evaluate their own performance against the professional narrator. The library consists entirely of public domain literary classics. The app tracks reading time and chapters completed to visualize stamina growth, but it does not run speech recognition software to automatically score accuracy.
Strengths and tradeoffs of Relay Reader
Relay Reader's biggest strength is its use of modeled fluency to reduce cognitive load, while its biggest weakness is the complete absence of corrective feedback. Modeled reading is a highly effective, research-backed strategy. By letting a student hear a professional narrator read with appropriate expression and pacing, the app sets an immediate cognitive target. When the student takes their turn, their brain does not have to work as hard to establish the rhythm of the text. Furthermore, the alternating structure inherently employs distributed practice. Taking breaks to listen prevents vocal and mental fatigue, allowing learners to sustain engagement with complex texts for much longer periods.
However, the app relies entirely on self-monitoring for error correction. It does not utilize speech recognition to flag mispronounced words or skipped lines. If a student misreads a word, they will only realize it if they independently listen to their recording and recognize the error themselves. Furthermore, the app lacks any retrieval practice or comprehension questions. A student could theoretically read a passage aloud with perfect prosody without understanding any of the meaning. Therefore, it functions strictly as a fluency-building utility rather than a standalone reading curriculum.
Who Might Benefit From Relay Reader?
Relay Reader is best for intermediate readers in grades 3 through 8 who know how to decode words but lack oral reading fluency and stamina. It serves as an excellent independent practice tool for students who read in a slow, robotic manner and need exposure to proper prosody. Because it uses classic literature, it also suits adult education learners looking for age-appropriate fluency practice without childish graphics. It is not suitable for early emergent readers who require explicit phonics instruction, or for students who struggle with reading comprehension.
Data Transparency
Meets Data Transparency Standard
Relay Reader meets our data transparency standard at Level 2 of 3 (Parent control). Level 3 needs the policy to document an API for retrieving their own data and a named export format.
21 of 35 checks passed
Level 1 · Basic protections
Does not sell data or target ads at students, limits sharing, and lets parents see and delete their child's data.
Level 2 · Parent control (meets the standard)
Families can get their data out, know who processes it, and know how long it is kept.
Level 3 · Direct data access
Families or schools can pull their own data through an API, in a stated format.
Not documented: an API for retrieving their own data, a named export format
View all 35 checks
Parent Access5/8
Does the policy mention parents specifically?
“Parents and teachers can review and delete the child's information at any time in the K-8 App.”
Can parents view their child's data?
“Parents and teachers can review and delete the child's information at any time in the K-8 App.”
Can parents modify their child's data?
The policy lets parents review and delete the child's information but does not state that parents can correct or modify it.
Can parents delete their child's account?
“We will also delete K-12 Student Data upon request of the school or (if feasible) the applicable parent or student.”
Is there a dedicated Children's Privacy section?
“Children Under 13 Years Old”
Does it reference COPPA compliance?
The policy refers only to applicable children's privacy laws and does not name COPPA.
Does it reference FERPA compliance?
The policy does not mention FERPA.
Is parental consent required for child accounts?
“Parents and schools may create accounts for children, such as registering them for tests. The parent or school (acting for the parent) must consent to our processing of the child’s data as described in this Privacy Notice for ETS to administer the test.”
Data Portability3/5
Can users access their personal data?
“You have the right to request a copy of the personal information that ETS maintains about you. To exercise this right, please email etsinfo@ets.org.”
Can users download/export their data?
“The right to know if we maintain your personal information, and if we do, to access that information (subject to the rights of others) and to request that we provide your information in a portable format,”
Is there a self-service data access tool?
“If you have an online account, you can log into your account at any time to access and update the information you have provided to us (with the exception of your name, gender, birthdate or Social Security number, if provided).”
Is a specific data format mentioned for export?
The policy mentions only a "portable format" and does not name a specific format.
Is there an API for data access?
The policy does not describe an API for data access.
Data Minimization2/6
Is data collection itemized?
“ETS may collect the child's first name or nickname, age or grade in school, and basic demographic data from the parent or guardian when the child’s account is created within the K-8 Apps.”
Can the app be used without a real name?
The policy states that K-12 Student Data includes identifiers such as the student's name.
Can the app be used without an email?
The policy lists email address as collected contact information and does not state that students can use the products without one.
Does it state collection is limited to what is necessary?
“ETS does not collect, maintain, use or disclose K-12 Student Data other than as needed for authorized educational/school purposes, or as appropriately authorized by a school, parent, or student.”
Is IP address anonymized or truncated?
The policy says server logs record IP addresses and does not state that they are anonymized or truncated.
Is location tracking explicitly excluded?
The policy says server logs record the country and time zone of the device and does not rule out location tracking.
Third-Party Protection6/7
Does it explicitly state no selling of data?
“As a nonprofit, ETS is not directly subject to the CCPA. However, we are deeply committed to protecting the privacy and security of all the Personal Information that is entrusted to us. We do not sell Personal Information.”
Are third-party providers named?
“Our websites use third party analytics services, such as Google Analytics.”
Are providers contractually restricted?
“We may disclose any personal information to our affiliates and to the service providers and contractors that need to use the information to provide services to us. We have contracts with these companies that require them to protect our information and to comply with law.”
No-targeted-advertising commitment?
“In particular, ETS does not: - Use any K-12 Student Data for targeted advertising”
Is AI/ML data sharing addressed?
The policy discusses automated decision-making but does not address sharing data for AI or machine learning.
Child-specific sharing restriction?
“ETS does not maintain identifiable data about children under 13, and children cannot make their own data publicly available via the apps. ETS does not (and will not permit any third party to) associate identifying information with research data.”
Cookies/tracking limited or opt-out?
“You can use our Cookie Management Platformto control which of these cookies you wish to accept or to reject all non-necessary cookies.”
Deletion & Retention3/5
Can users delete their account?
“You have the right to request that we delete or anonymize your personal information. You can also request that we delete your ETS account.”
Self-service deletion mechanism?
“Parents and teachers can review and delete the child's information at any time in the K-8 App.”
Specific data retention timeline?
“Unless we are required by law or have a legitimate interest to retain your information, we will delete it within 30 days of your request.”
Auto-deletion of inactive accounts?
The policy does not address automatic deletion of inactive accounts.
Post-deletion handling described?
The policy notes that some data cannot be deleted when retention is required but does not describe how data is handled after deletion.
Advertising2/4
Advertising model explicitly disclosed?
“Advertising cookies, which allow us and our partners to display personalized ads to you on our site and on other websites that you visit.”
Free from third-party advertisements?
The policy says visitors may see other companies' ads on ETS websites and does not state that the K-12 products are ad-free.
Children excluded from ad targeting?
“Create K-12 Student profiles for advertising or for any other purpose that is not required for educational purposes”
Ad-free option available?
The policy does not state that any product is ad-free, and its websites display ads.
Meets Data Transparency Standard
The reviewed policy met our data transparency standard. This result describes the policy disclosures we assessed. Actual practices and legal compliance were not verified.
About this evaluation: Based on automated analysis of ETS Privacy and Security Policy and K-12 Student Data Privacy Statement against 35 policy-disclosure questions, including questions adapted from the Common Sense Privacy Program's published evaluation questions. TLS is not affiliated with Common Sense Media, and this is not a Common Sense rating. Quoted text is copied from the policy; unquoted notes are our summary. Results describe what the policy documents, not the company's actual practices. Privacy policies can change: this review reflects the version we analyzed and does not determine legal compliance.
Sources and review method
TLS combines product information and editorial analysis to explain how Relay Reader works, its tradeoffs, and the questions to ask before choosing it. Product features, an instructional rationale and evidence of learning outcomes are different kinds of information.
Formal Learning Standard assessment: not yet completed. Data Transparency findings are reported separately and do not establish learning effectiveness. Read our methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions About Relay Reader
Is Relay Reader free?
Yes, Relay Reader is completely free to use. There are no subscription fees, premium tiers, or in-app purchases required to access the library of literary classics or the recording features.
Is Relay Reader good for elementary students?
Yes, it is effective for upper elementary students (grades 3-5) who are transitioning from learning to read to reading to learn. It helps them build the stamina required for longer chapter books. It is not recommended for early readers (K-2) who still need foundational phonics instruction to decode basic words.
What does Relay Reader teach?
Relay Reader teaches oral reading fluency, pacing, and prosody. It does not teach foundational decoding skills, spelling, or reading comprehension. The app is specifically designed to help students read out loud more smoothly and confidently by mimicking a skilled virtual partner.
How does Relay Reader compare to Reading Assistant Plus?
Reading Assistant Plus uses advanced speech recognition software to provide immediate, corrective feedback when a student mispronounces a word. Relay Reader does not offer speech recognition or real-time correction. Relay Reader relies entirely on the student's ability to self-monitor by listening to their own recordings, making it less rigorous but far more accessible as a free tool.
Has The Learning Standard evaluated Relay Reader?
TLS has not yet completed a Learning Standard evaluation of how well Relay Reader teaches. Its privacy policy has been reviewed for Data Transparency and reaches Level 2, Parent control.
Is Relay Reader COPPA compliant?
A COPPA reference was not found in the reviewed privacy policy. This does not determine whether the app complies with COPPA. Policy review note: The policy refers only to applicable children's privacy laws and does not name COPPA.
Is Relay Reader FERPA compliant?
A FERPA reference was not found in the reviewed privacy policy. This does not determine whether the app complies with FERPA. Policy review note: The policy does not mention FERPA.
Does Relay Reader have a children's privacy policy?
The reviewed policy includes a dedicated children's privacy section. Policy review note: The K-12 statement has a dedicated section headed Children Under 13 Years Old.
Does Relay Reader sell student data?
The reviewed policy states that the app does not sell data. This is a policy statement; actual data practices were not verified. Policy review note: ETS states that it does not sell Personal Information.
Can you delete your data from Relay Reader?
The reviewed privacy policy describes account deletion. We have not tested the deletion process. Policy review note: Users can request deletion of their account.
Follow TLS Research
Subscribe to future TLS research updates: app reviews, findings, and what the evidence shows.
Take Action
For Relay Reader
If you represent ETS and have a correction or new evidence, send the relevant source so we can review and update this page.
Submit a correctionDetails
- Pricing
- Free
- Platforms
- Web Browser, iOS (Apple mobile), Android (Google mobile), Windows (Microsoft), macOS (Apple), Chrome OS (Google)
- Grade Levels
- 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, Adult Education
- Website
- Visit site