Even before the re-election of President Bush made its future secure, the No Child Left Behind Act had begun sinking roots in states across the country.

On virtually every indicator tracked by the Education Week Research Center, based on a survey of state education departments, the number of states meeting the law's requirements in the 2004-05 school year has inched up from last year, although far more remains to be done.

"We've made great progress in our schools, and there is more w...