Statement of the Problem.
The students who score well on the tests are not necessarily better learners. Conversely, the students that do poorly are not necessarily poor learners. This all culminates in a classroom, which has forgotten that good instruction goes beyond the test. NCLB is an ideal that has been implemented across the nation. It has systematically eroded quality instruction forcing teachers to create lessons that are developmen tally and pedagogically inappropriate (National Center for Open and Fair Testing, 2007; Jar dine, 2002; Klie bard, 1995). While it is not likely NCLB or standardized testing will change any time soon, educators can put into practice layered curriculums developed through brain-based research. These strategies create more substantial learning environments. Brain-based learning can update education by teaching the whole child at his or her ability, thus making the required standardized tests not only easier for the students but also more valuable to the educators. Brain-based learning strategies used in the classroom can bring about real change. More appropriate pedagogy follows and the test scores will more accurately represent what a child understands rather than what a child can reiterate. Children will be encouraged to think and process rather than just respond, finally meeting NCLB's mind building ideal.