The Washington state Senate has passed a measure to set up an A through F grade scale for K-12 schools.

Under the bill approved Wednesday, the grading system would be set up as a pilot program in a handful of schools starting in the fall of 2013. After an evaluation, it would be implemented statewide the following year.

Bill supporters say that it should be made plain when a school is failing.

Opponents counter that it would be damaging and in many cases unfair to label schools as failures.

The measure passed by a 26-23 vote, with all but one Republican in favor and all but four Democrats opposed. It goes next to the House.

The bill is among several K-12 education reform measures that the state Senate is considering.