Episode
144 - Second-Order Change: Why Grading Reform Requires Leadership, Not Just Teachers
- Podcast
- The Grading Podcast
- Published
- Apr 14, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3407
- Processing state
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Summary
In this episode, Sharona and Boz welcome back Matt Townsley to dig into a critical—and often overlooked—truth about grading reform: if leaders don’t understand and support it, it simply won’t scale. Drawing on both research and real-world experience, Matt explains why grading reform is a “second-order change” that requires deep philosophical commitment from administrators, not just technical adjustments from teachers. The conversation explores the upcoming Iowa based leadership-focused standards-based grading conference, the role of systems-level support, and emerging frameworks like multi-tiered support for teacher implementation. Along the way, the trio connects these ideas to broader challenges in both K–12 and higher education, from structural barriers to the growing urgency of reform in the age of AI. The takeaway is clear: isolated classroom innovation isn’t enough—lasting change requires aligned leadership, intentional systems, and a shared purpose for what grades are meant to communicate. Links Please note - any books linked here are likely Amazon Associates links. Clicking on them and purchasing through them helps support the show. Thanks for your support! Standards-Based Grading Conference: The 3rd Annual Collaborative Assessment Conference for Leadership Teams All Things Standards-Based Grading , by Matt Townsley Grading Reform Isn't Options Anymore - Here's Why , with Matt Townsley Top 5 standards-based grading articles for 2025 , by Matt Townsley When standards-based grading feels dark…and reassessments become the flashlight everyone reaches for later , by Matt Townsley Walking the talk: Embedding standards-based grading in an educational leadership course The 4 Common Myths about Grading Reform, Debunked , by Matt Townsley and Sarah Morriss Previous Episo…