Validación psicométrica de un instrumento digital de screening JEL-K para la detección temprana de riesgo lector en nivel inicial

The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the digital version of the JEL-K battery, a screening instrument designed for the early identification of reading risk in kindergarten. A total of 2,154 children (52 % girls) enrolled in the last year of kindergarten or in first grade at private and public schools in Argentina participated in the study (M = 5.29; SD = 0.49). Separate samples and subsamples were used for each analysis: Group A (n = 684) for reliability and exploratory factor analyses; Group B (n = 1,349) for confirmatory factor analysis; Group C (n = 600) for test–retest stability (four- to five-week interval); Group D (n = 152) to compare digital and paper administration (three- to six-month interval); and Group E (n = 121) to evaluate discriminative capacity through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis using reading fluency at the end of first grade as the criterion. Results showed adequate internal consistency for the total battery (α = .79; ω = .80) and high temporal stability (r = .98, p < .001). The correlated multifactor model showed good fit. No significant differences were found between digital and paper formats. ROC analysis showed adequate discriminative capacity, with a sensitivity of 83 % and a specificity of 74 %. Overall, the results support the validity and usefulness of the digital JEL-K as a screening tool in educational contexts.