"I am a reading specialist in a Title I/Reading First School. Consequently, we have to give our students many standardized tests to measure their reading growth. I usually work with the very lowest reading groups in each grade.

"All of the newly required testing is causing unbelievable stress for these very young children, stress that I believe is harmful to their mental and physical health. Not only that, the stress interferes with their ability to achieve to their levels on these tests. Most of my students, even though they are small, know that they have trouble reading. Even though I try to minimize the stress during testing time, young students get so frustrated that they cry. I believe that this prevents them from showing what they truly know.

"I also believe that this kind of testing is certainly developmentally inappropriate. If we must test, I feel that child development professionals need to be involved at some point in assuring the mental well-being of these young students."

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