llinois Governor Pat Quinn is urging lawmakers to find money for standardized writing tests for high school juniors.

The Illinois State Board of Education axed the tests in order to save an estimated $2.4 million dollars next year. But Quinn said Thursday that he wants legislators to consider the value of the tests when the head back to Springfield for their fall session.

“I think that it’s very important to have students who can read well and write well,” Quinn said. “And the two are connected. The more you read, the better you are as a writer.”

Illinois cut writing tests for elementary and middle school students last year. Federal law requires that students be tested on reading and math, but not on writing.