I agree that the federal government is involved with "no child left behind." The fed did it in a unique way in that it tied "performance standards" to the receipt of federal moneys for education by the state. States always can tell the fed "thanks but no thanks" for the fed money.

I understand why teachers unionized - money, working conditions, benefits - just like employees in any other industry. The problem has grown with employee and union involvement in: the selection of which services will be provided (e.g., what subjects will be taught); what the lesson plans (if any) will include; what constitutes a "grade" to be given to the student; and the utter lack of objective and measurable employee performance standards in most districts.

In other words, the factory has been turned over to the employees and no one is now "responsible" for the product coming off the assembly line.