The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act is one of the best conversation starters that public education has ever had. Despite (or maybe because of) its numerous flaws, people across the country--and not just educators--are talking as never before about schools, the quality of teaching, expectations, and accountability. The problem is that this law, like most federal involvement in education, focuses on specific strategies. The most current among the ideas that are being left behind is a better understanding about student motivation, especially among high school students. This article examines high school students and the NCLB.