In June 2004, three out of four public schools in Florida failed to meet a new federal standard for school improvement, including one arts school that had earned "A" ratings on statewide tests for four consecutive years (Shanklin 2004). How can so many schools, including "A" schools, be failing? The answer: the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (U.S. Congress 2001). The act is reshaping public education in the United States. In this article, the author identifies key terms and regulations in the law and indicates how it is related to the companion Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (U.S. Congress 2002).