The reason ISTEP costs more is because it has writing and problem solving on it. To take writing off of Indiana's test is to turn us around and go backward.
Quotes about istep (3 Quotes)
Anytime anyone can do something academically, then kids see it everywhere. Now with ISTEP it's not just English, language arts and math, it's also science in fifth grade. That will trickle down eventually.
We give the Terra Nova test so ISTEP is not the first big test they take. Terra Nova tests similar skills so they get that practice in first and second grades. Some children get stressed by it, but if the parents and teachers have the right attitude, they don't get as stressed. We try not to create an environment that would cause that.