Literacy instruction does not end with reading success in early grades. As students move to middle and high school, new challenges emerge that can affect literacy achievement. Even for students who achieve early reading and writing success, the literacy demands of middle and high school can pose substantial challenges. Older students must be able to comprehend more complex texts; determine the meaning of obscure, unfamiliar, and technical vocabulary; use higher-order thinking skills to analyze a wide variety of literacy and expository texts and media; and develop skills for expressing their ideas by writing informative, persuasive, and creative texts. For students who enter middle and high school with compromised reading and writing skills, these challenges are even more daunting. The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act promotes significant changes in the nation's schools. This "Quick Key Action Guide" assists educators and administrators in understanding NCLB with a specific focus on the needs of adolescent learners who are building their literacy across content areas. Examples and suggestions are included to assist education stakeholders in the consideration of reform efforts at the school, district, and state levels.