PMP423: Extinguishing Fires Within Assessment and Grading Reform with Garth Larson

Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast with William D. Parker

A quick note to listeners:

Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered a listener question in a 5-minute response.

The question is: What are the best practices for improving communication and fostering a sense of ownership among staff?

Listen in for our response and thank you for doing what matters!

Meet Garth Larson

Garth Larson, Ed.D, is the Co-Founder and CEO of FIRST Educational Resources. He started his career as a high school speech and English teacher, later becoming an elementary principal and then the Director of Learning for the Winneconne Community School District in northeast Wisconsin. In 2015, he co-founded FIRST Educational Resources to enhance student achievement nationwide. Since then, over 2,000 global school districts have partnered with his company. Garth consults internationally, offering professional development on key educational topics like Professional Learning Communities 2.0 and Learning-Centered Grading Practices. He has authored four books, including “Grading for Impact” and “PLC 2.0: Collaborating for Observable Impact in Today’s Schools.

Garth has been doing some incredible work in educational reform and recently co-authored a book titled Extinguishing the Fires Within Assessment and Grading Reform.

As we dove into a conversation about the evolution of standards-based grading, Garth shared how this approach represents a significant shift in how we assess student learning. He mentioned influential figures like Tom Guskey, Rick Wormeli, and Ken O’Connor. In particular, Ken O’Connor’s CALM framework—Consistent, Accurate, Learning-focused, and Meaningful—really stood out. If you’re interested in learning more about this, O’Connor’s book A Repair Kit for Grading is a fantastic resource.

Garth offered some valuable advice for educational leaders. For those just starting with standards-based grading, he emphasized the importance of truly understanding what this system is—and what it isn’t. For leaders facing resistance or mixed messages within their communities, he stressed clear communication and proactive engagement with all stakeholders.

We also tackled some common hurdles, like the misconception that standards-based grading doesn’t prepare students for “the real world.” Garth flipped that notion on its head, urging us to focus on preparing students for life beyond school. He advocated for policies that align with our school’s mission and highlighted the necessity of allowing retakes and reassessments to give students real opportunities to learn from their mistakes.

One story that really resonated was about a school that shifted to proficiency-based grading, leading to multiple valedictorians. This change fostered a collaborative spirit among students, emphasizing learning and growth over competition.

If you’d like to learn more, feel free to reach out to Garth at [e-mail] or visit the FIRST Educational Resources website at firsteducation-us.com.

Thank you for learning together, and for doing what matters!

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