A good Little League baseball coach will analyze a pitcher's performance and develop an individual prescription based on that analysis. Just as all pitchers do not receive the same remedies from high-quality coaches, the author believes, neither should all students. No Child Left Behind (NCLB) stands as the imposing batter to many teachers and students in our schools. Teachers want to instruct and students want to achieve. The voices they hear sound like encouragement. "Promote higher standards," offers the consultant. "Don't fail them!" yells the research. "Try harder!" chant public education's critics. But, like the empty advice shouted at our pitcher, these cliches are not helpful at all. The author explains why in this article.