The sanctions are harsh, implemented based on a single test and create "great discomfort," Carl said.

"But," she adds, "if we dump it and start over, I'm not sure what we're going back to. And if every state has their standards, I'm not sure what we're doing as a nation in this international world."

Rorrer suggests studying the effects of the law so far, and fine tuning areas of weakness rather than new initiatives. Carl agrees.

"I don't see it as a retrenchment effort, and I do believe it's worth the work," Carl said. "Because I talk to other people across the United States in other curriculum areas, and leadership positions, and one of the things is, it may be an uncomfortable law, but we are seeing the rules and the regulations make a difference for kids where we haven't been making a difference before."

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