The Science · Research Portfolio
Experimental validation. Evidence-based development.
University research, an independent review, and real classrooms all show how readers understand more with the Cascade format.
Completed research
Reviewed by Johns Hopkins University.
Our research base has been externally evaluated for rigor. For the full picture, read our latest Research Portfolio (PDF) alongside the studies below.
★★★★ (out of four)
Four of four stars in an independent Johns Hopkins review of Cascade’s research base and rationale.
11%
comprehension boost
for English Language Learners. Both native and nonnative speakers understood more with the Cascade Format)
4/5
neurodiverse readers prefer Cascade
200 readers with ADHD or Dyslexia, surveyed after trying Cascade
10+
research partners
across different school districts, universities, states, and regions
University of Illinois
Improving comprehension for nonnative speakers
Adult readers from a range of linguistic backgrounds — including English-language learners — read passages presented in either Cascade Format or standard block text. Comprehension improved for both first-language English readers and ELLs, evidence that reformatting around sentence structure helps readers regardless of their native language.
Reading in Cascade was an emotional moment today as I felt like somebody finally understands non-native speakers like me.
Adult English Language Learner
Cascade Reading user
Wisconsin Public Schools
Longitudinal classroom studies
Two multi-month studies with 4th- and 5th-grade classrooms, run a year apart in two different districts. Both reported better comprehension outcomes for students reading in Cascade Format.
Semester-long study
Over a 12-week study, comprehension gains were strongest for students reading around grade level (Lexile 635L–945L), and students in the lowest Lexile range reported feeling more confident in their answers when reading in Cascade Format. Students also reported an increased ability to imagine how a sentence would sound as they read it — a skill tied to fluent, expressive reading.
Year-long study
Run for a full academic year using Cascade’s own Passages Library, this second study again found better reading comprehension outcomes for students reading in Cascade Format — extending the semester-long study’s findings across a longer stretch of classroom use.
University of Illinois
Eye-tracking research
To understand the cognitive mechanisms behind Cascade’s comprehension gains, we used eye-tracking, a technique that records the time-course and location of a reader’s eye fixations as they move across the screen. 80 adult participants were tracked sentence by sentence while reading in Cascade Format, again showing improved comprehension. Readers also spent less time rereading and showed patterns consistent with being more tuned into grammatical structure, evidence that Cascade may improve reading efficiency, not only comprehension.
Adult Reader Survey
ADHD & dyslexia research
100 adult readers with ADHD and 100 adult readers with dyslexia took part in a two-session reading study, then reported on their experience with Cascade Format. The results were strongly positive: more than four in five preferred Cascade Format to traditional text, and a majority reported feeling more confident and said they’d use it again if it were available. Readers with neurodiverse profiles often carry real anxiety around reading. A format that measurably eases that friction is a meaningful first step toward removing that barrier.
As someone with ADHD and a mild reading disability, I found it easier to follow along with the passage to catch the point.
Adult Reader
Cascade Reading user
Where the research happens
Research partners span classrooms and labs.
Cascade’s research program runs across school types, lab settings, and reading populations — not just one convenient sample.
In the classroom
Public school districts
Multiple districts across the country have opened their classrooms to Cascade studies, expanding the range of student populations represented.
Private schools
Data collection with a private school serving children with language-based learning differences, including dyslexia and attention difficulties.
In the lab
University research partners
Lab-based experiments at top research universities continue to isolate the specific linguistic and cognitive mechanisms behind Cascade’s comprehension gains.
Open research questions
Current work explores the growth rate of comprehension improvement with exposure to Cascade Format, how much exposure is needed for a maximum effect, and how both vary by language group and reading ability level.
Backed by expertise
Guided by scientists who study how readers actually read.
Cascade’s algorithm is guided by Chief Scientist Julie Van Dyke, PhD, who brings 30+ years of experience in reading and language science, and VP of Research Jack Dempsey, PhD, who leads the team putting it to the test. Research stays at the center of everything we build.
The research backs it up. See the difference for yourself.
Every study points the same direction: readers understand more, and read more comfortably, when sentence structure is visible on the page. Let’s show you what that looks like with your own content.
Good to know
Common questions
Is there research behind Cascade Format?
Cascade is backed by multiple studies across age groups and reading profiles, published in peer-reviewed journals. See the Research Portfolio.
Is there real evidence this helps readers who struggle with reading, ADHD, or dyslexia?
Yes. Four in five adults with ADHD or dyslexia preferred Cascade Format over traditional text. See the Research Portfolio.
What's the research basis for Cascade?
Decades of reading research point to syntax as the backbone of reading comprehension. Cascade’s scientific team has built upon that foundation by conducting rigorous research which has been published in peer-reviewed journals. See the Research Portfolio.
Has Cascade been independently evaluated?
Yes. Cascade’s research has been rigorously reviewed by independent experts through the peer-review process, and received a top rating following a Johns Hopkins review of our methods and approach.
With what populations has Cascade conducted research?
Research spans children to adults, native and non-native speakers, and neurotypical and neurodivergent readers, including two longitudinal studies following 4th and 5th graders and a University of Illinois eye-tracking study of 80 adult readers.
Does Cascade help neurodivergent readers specifically?
In a study of 200 adults with ADHD or dyslexia, 4 out of 5 preferred reading in Cascade format, and 73% of dyslexic readers and 70% of readers with ADHD found it easier.
Does Cascade help people reading in a second language?
Yes. Studies showed comprehension gains of +11% for Mandarin-speaking and +5% for Korean-speaking readers of English. See the Research Portfolio to learn more.
Where can I read the actual studies?
The Research Portfolio page collects Cascade’s published and ongoing studies in full.