We need to look at alternative teacher certification immediately. It is negotiated into their contracts. Merit pay will grow in popularity around the nation, but it is a temporary cure all. The unions will figure a way to control that as well. Well I wrote a paper, available on Townhall on this subject.
Independent groups are the best available option for teachers.
No the NEA and AFT cannot be reformed. But I fear they are too many conformists who toe the line. Competition will force public schools to improve. I heard an idea that would examine the economic impact of teachers unions in actual cost. Something the NEA could not refute.