The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) specifies that all educational programs or curricula be supported by "scientifically based research" in order to ensure better quality control. However, in the arena of sex education, the federal government allocates millions of dollars in grants for schools and organizations to implement abstinence-only-until-marriage sex-education programs, which "scientifically based research" studies suggest are largely ineffective in preventing pre-marital sexual activity or preventing teen pregnancies and STI acquisition. This article explores this policy paradox by contemplating its origin, analyzing its components, and offering suggestions on how it can be remedied. (Contains 2 notes.)