"My name is Fredria Sterling, and I have been an educator for the past 30 years. I presently teach middle school-aged learning-disabled students. The NCLB legislation has greatly impacted their student achievement.

"These students are required to learn the same material as their regular education peers despite their impaired cognitive learning abilities. I see the distress in their faces when they are faced with standardized tests, end-of-nine-week assessments, and county assessments.

"They are required to learn too much material in such a short period of time. Each spring, I must coach them on test-taking strategies and practice tests that will prepare them for the high-stakes test in our state. In order for these students to be successful and enjoy learning, as they did in past years, I believe that we must take them from where they are academically and work to bring them to the level where they should be-at their own pace.

"NCLB has caused much stress and anxiety for teachers, as well as for their students. Teachers want their students to learn but must face the reality that students don't come to the table with the same skills and abilities. So, it is impossible for every student to be on the same level by 2014."

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