Computer administered fluency assessments are available for reading comprehension (Grades 1-8) and reading fluency (Grades 1-5). The assessment process is unique because:

• Fewer adults are required to conduct the assessment. Assessments are computer administered rather than computer assisted. Students receive the assessment through a normal computer work station. This is in contrast with computer assisted assessment which requires the same number of adults to conduct, for example, the DIBELS assessment and the computer or hand held merely assists with scoring. With these assessments, the computer administers, scores and interprets the assessment and one adult can assess several students simultaneously. Instead of 10 teachers testing, there are 9 teachers teaching and 1 teacher testing.

• Assessments are fluency based. Most computer based assessments are not truly fluency based because of the technical problems associated with the internet. A slow internet connection can cause the student to obtain a lower score because the student is ready but the computer is not. STEEP assessments rely on a new technology such that the computer can go as fast as the fastest student.
   
• New equipment is not needed   This assessment process makes use of existing computers. There is no need to purchase handheld computers (e.g., Palm) or costly pens and special paper. Consequently, there is no need for staff to learn to use and maintain new technology. Related to this, there is less equipment to break and replace.