Illinois school children are no longer required to take a writing assessment test in the 11th grade.  Matt Vanover, with the Illinois State Board of Education, says ISBE would like to keep the program but doesn't have the money.

[audio:rddWrite1.mp3]Not enough money...[/audio]

Vanover adds grading students' writing is different than other standardized testing.

[audio:rddWrite2.mp3]Cuts must be made...[/audio]

ISBE is expected to save two-point-four million dollars a year by cutting the writing assessment.  Unlike reading, math and science, writing is not mandated by federal law.  Writing assessment for third through eighth graders was eliminated last year at a savings of around three-point-five million dollars.