This literature review looks at the impacts of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001 on English language learners (ELLs), educators and schools. A brief overview of the current state of English as a second language teaching for adult learners will first be described. Then the importance of the enactment of the NCLB of 2001 is mentioned. Both the problems and the benefits the NCLB has created for ELLs and educators and schools will be presented. This literature review shows that although the NCLB has posed challenges to ELLs, teachers, and schools, the benefits it has brought for ELLs in particular and the education system in general outweigh the problems and challenges. The NCLB Act of 2001 can be deemed as a victory for disadvantaged student groups in the United States both in terms of legal written rights to be provided with quality English language education and budget allocation.