No Bobby Left Behind

"No Bobby Left Behind" is the fifth episode in the 13th season of the Fox animated series King of the Hill, and the 240th episode overall. It originally aired on November 9, 2008. Mark Sainsbury and Paul Henry guest star. The episode's title references the No Child Left Behind Act, which is often referred to as 'No Child Left Behind'.

Plot

When Bobby faces failing his math class, Hank sees it as a lack of effort on Bobby's part and is determined to make him work harder. Meanwhile, Tom Landry Middle School is bracing for the annual standardized test, as mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act. With two failures already on the school's record, another would jeopardize the jobs of the current faculty. In a desperate bid for self-preservation on the job, Principal Moss places Bobby, Joseph, and other poorly-performing students into the special-needs class to get them out of taking the test and hopefully bring the school's average up to acceptable levels; with the promise of not having to take the test or do their regular school work, the students are all too happy to play along, even playing dumb when an official comes to evaluate them and ascertain their eligibility for special-needs status. Needless to say, Bobby's new designation causes Peggy deep concern but only infuriates Hank, who knows that Bobby's poor academic performance is due not to inability but to insufficient effort; a discussion in the alley on the subject reveals that Dale is meanwhile thrilled with this turn of events, since it means that he's off the hook when it comes to Joseph's performance. When Hank confronts Principal Moss about it, though, Moss bolts, leaving Hank to deal with the well-meaning but clueless official with no success.

Some time later, the special-needs students are sent on a field trip to Alamo Land, with Dale acting as a chaperone. The students all go on a log flume ride but break many safety regulations, first by cramming everyone into a single log, then by standing up on the ride and falling into the water. By the time the log goes over the ride's trademark drop, Dale is the only person left in the log (unbeknownst to him); passersby panic when they see the special-needs students, still in the water, all coming over the drop after him. Although none of the students come to harm, the incident makes the news, and Principal Moss comes under fire for having left the students 'unattended' (with the childish Dale being assumed to be one of the students) and beseeches Hank for help. Hank tells him that his only way out is to just make the kids actually do their work, and he and the panicked teachers pull the kids back out of special needs and put them through a rigorous crash-course to bring them up to speed for the test.

Test day comes and goes, and Bobby manages to pass after all; however, the school meanwhile racks up its third failure. Coach Kleehammer assumes the role of interim principal, and Moss whiles away the term of his temporary suspension selling steaks.

Trivia

• This episode drew 6.7 million viewers, the third-highest rated program on Fox that evening.