As the 2004-2005 began, science teachers were faced with unprecedented challenges. Limited budgets were stretched to the breaking point. The mandates of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), state and national standards, and high-stakes testing required teachers to reflect on past practices and current teaching strategies. In this month’s column, the field editor shares his thoughts on these issues. In addition, he highlights various strategies found in this issue of The Science Teacher (TST) that will help teachers to face these challenges with confidence, especially as they relate to “Science on a Shoestring Budget.”