The Southeast Center for Teaching Quality (SECTQ) has quickly established itself as a national leader on issues related to teaching quality. This report demonstrates the high-quality work that has become the standard for the center. Researchers focused on case studies in four southern states, 12 districts, and 24 high-need schools to determine if the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation has been effective in increasing the number of highly qualified teachers. The authors argue that the NCLB's emphasis on content knowledge and the lack of financial and technical support combined to drive states to lower standards for teachers.