In 1995, New York State Education Commissioner Richard Mills and the Board of Regents changed the state's testing policy in favor of a challenging, high-stakes testing accountability system. The case describes Mill's leadership over the next six years in the face of significant opposition from parents, alternative schools, vocational educators, and bilingual advocates. The case portrays Mills' effectiveness as an apologist of the policy to the public and his ability to survive politically. It documents his justification of placing stakes on students as the means to persuade state institutions, including the governor and the legislature, to provide greater financial support for education.