Indianapolis' plan for turning around four schools designated as "chronically failing" under NCLB may have been in the best interest of students, but it is now kaput after running afoul of the teachers union. The district had intended to add 25 days to the school year at these four schools--apparently without ever consulting the teachers union, not just a legal violation but a political blunder to boot.

One middle school teacher, Mona Dilts, took no pity on the district: "They tried to use No Child Left Behind as a smokescreen...The bottom line is, No Child Left Behind states you can?t override negotiations." Though other districts will hopefully exhibit more political finesse, there will likely be more cases of NCLB v. CBA as districts scramble to find ways to improve low performing schools.