...tip of the iceberg.
You are absolutely right. This is happening all over our nation. Many Administrators (Principles, Superintendents, ? School Boards) are requiring that teachers do what they have to do so that students pass.
Is this so that the ratings are higher for the schools? Is it because of the pressure from parents? Is is because of pressure from city/state administrations? Is it because teachers themselves need to be rated higher for tenure, etc.? Is is strictly racial?
I personally know a teacher who was required, to raise the grades of his students by the administration, while he worked in Tennessee and Florida, so the students received passing marks even if they had grades of 0.
The pressure on the teachers in these schools has turned away many good people.