The emphasis has shifted so that academic excellence has been replaced by a far higher goal: that of teaching diversity. SAT scores and other forms of standardized testing demonstrate this in spades. That's why the educrats want to do away with these yardsticks of performance.
If industry was run in this way, the entire system would have become bankrupt. Teachers should be held accountable for the "products" they turn out, just like the manufacturers of other "goods". Pay and raises should be merit-based, just like in my company. Pay for Excellence. Pink slips for Incompetence. Its as simple as that. Eastin wants to do away with any competition in the field of education, because such competition demonstrates just how rotten public "education" has become.
The teachers unions have become money funnels to the demonRAT/Socialists; its a big "circle jerk". The students well-being has taken a back seat to the unions. Want real change? Destroy the teachers unions.
Consider this as a pitch and a strategy.