The document is from a presentation at the 2014 annual conference of the Science Teachers Association of Texas (STAT). The presenter noted that the 2001 No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law was the most far-reaching education legislation in over four decades. To address the requirements of this legislation, the presenter examined the third-generation correlates of the effective schools literature (based on one-half million studies) and discussed strategies he has used to achieve outstanding state test results. Having observed that many student failures and dropouts centered on the social and emotional needs of students, the presenter discussed how to build an exemplary classroom culture, the components of a classroom preventive discipline program, and some of the characteristics seen in students with emotional and psychological disorders. This was followed by a brief discussion of item response theory (IRT) and its application in state test development. The presenter then discussed how to maximize achievement for special education students. Included was an individual education plan (IEP) accommodation-modification summary chart for teachers to use in their daily work with special education students and in admission, review and dismissal (ARD) meetings.