Those commenting on the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act find themselves at an interesting juncture. Debates over projected outcomes of the law have now begun to give way to certainty. An August 2002 piece the author edited and distributed to school administrators in Indiana, titled "The Grim Reaper," pointed out that, as it was being interpreted and implemented, NCLB would, in just a few years, identify every school in Indiana as "in need of improvement." This observation was greeted with amazement and skepticism. Now, less than two years later, it goes unchallenged. In this article the author examines why congress and Bush signed a NCLB bill certain to have results.