This phenomenological study investigated the lived experiences of how primary teachers (K-2) perceive and manage accountability pressures. Accountability pressures are the consequences of high-stakes and standardized testing. This can be overtly represented by inappropriately aligned standards or a fast-paced curriculum design to match tested content. However, it can also manifest covertly and differently among teachers. This study was designed to explore how primary teachers perceive accountability pressures. Although there is a great amount of literature exploring teachers' lived experiences within the accountability era, there is an opportunity to explore how primary teachers who do not give standardized testing are affected. In this qualitative study, the researcher conducted three focus groups with participants from each primary grade. Using an inductive approach, several themes emerged from the data. Even without teaching in grade levels with high-stakes standardized testing, primary teachers still experience accountability pressures in various forms. Many have reached critical moments in their teaching career where they can start to see themselves creating boundaries and limits for these pressures, but they still feel intrinsically bound to the expectations set for them. While this study also aimed to explore how teachers can implement developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) successfully within the classroom, the reality is that teachers may have heard about it during coursework in their teacher preparation courses but have found it difficult to implement it in their daily teaching process using an adopted curriculum. Future research should explore adding new data collection points and expanding the participant population. Future studies should also include leadership and their lived experiences, which can add another layer to the complex nature of public school education in the era of accountability. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]