In this chapter, Kozol reviews the impact of no child left behind. He avers that despite the fact that the children are encouraged that they will do well in their studies, the imbalance and underfunding affects their performance. He shifts the blame to the 20 years of Republican regime that further segregated the American schools.
It also focuses on "standard-based reform" which he states are an effort to redress the disparity between high and low economic schools through the use of positive thinking. He further states that this approach only offers temporary solutions. On the aspect of small school initiative, Kozol is supportive.

Chapter 12: Treasured Places
This is the last chapter of the book, it explains that even in the most neglected