New group has this on its to-consider list

Gov. Scott Walker promised to create an "A-to-F” grading scale for school quality, saying "schools should be graded just like students.”

Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie said the promise is being pursued by a school accountability group formed in July 2011 by Walker and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers.

Walker and Evers said they would seek approval from the U.S. Department of Education to allow the new school accountability system to replace No Child Left Behind, the initiative under President George W. Bush to improve school performance and accountability.

The new Wisconsin program would include every school that accepts taxpayer-funded students -- public schools, charter schools and private choice schools, according to the Department of Public Instruction.

The state"s largest teachers union, the Wisconsin Education Association Council, refused to participate in the group. The union"s president said the union does not trust Walker and two Republican lawmakers who also co-chair the group.

Whether a new "A-to-F” accountability system is developed remains to be seen; Evers has not agreed to the idea of giving such grades. For now, we rate this promise In the Works.