The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was passed in 1965 under the Johnson administration. Before that, federal legislation dealing with education provided funding or land for schools and special programs but was careful not to intrude on states' rights to make decisions on curriculum and the general operations of schools. The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is the latest reauthorization of ESEA. This article presents a brief history of ESEA that helps explain why--despite many educational organizations calling for the elimination of NCLB--the National Association of Secondary School Principals has chosen to suggest changes to the legislation instead of expecting it to be eliminated. The author believes that administrators' challenge now is to find a way to make the legislation work for them in meeting the goal that they all value: leaving no child behind when it comes to success in the classroom.