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If you don't like testing, then come up with an alternative.

Ah, I see. So something that's demonstrably unhelpful must remain in place until I come up with the alternative?

How ... stupid. And how very like the educational problem you purport to want to fix.

The alternative is actually very straightforward.

First, require teachers to get a real college degree, rather than an "education" degree. Then require a teaching certificate, which would consist of an additional year of classes which comprise the small set of classes which are actually useful.

"Specialty" teachers can take additional classes, and get additional certification.

THEN ... get good curricula, the characteristics of which are known, because they've passed the test of time.

THEN -- and only then -- does "testing" make sense, but only as an instructional tool, and not some idiocy designed to promote "competition" between schools.

First, require teachers to get a real college degree, rather than an "education" degree.

You are correct and indeed that is what is happening now. Many colleges are requiring subject areas for middle and high school teachers. The hold-outs are the elementary education majors. The trend now is to earn a degree in a subject area, then the masters in education, spend a semester student teaching, complete comps and/or thesis and ready to rock and roll in the real world.