Grading & Assessment.

Improving grading and assessment in a meaningful way isn’t about making school easier—it’s about making these practices clearer, more accurate, learning-centered, and equitable.

This site is devoted to helping teachers and school leaders improve classroom practices and design systems that truly reflect what students know and can do. Through practical strategies, research-based insights, and classroom-tested approaches, you’ll find tools to move beyond traditional grading and assessment practices and toward a model that prioritizes growth, clarity, and high expectations for all students.

Balancing Theory & Practice

Improving grading and assessment requires more than theory alone—it demands a pragmatic balance between research-based principles and real-world classroom application. This site bridges that gap by translating sound theory into practical strategies educators can actually use. The goal is to support meaningful, sustainable improvements that work in everyday teaching and leadership contexts.

Dr. Josh Kunnath is an 11th-grade English teacher and instructional coach at Highland High School in Bakersfield, California, where he has served since 2008. He teaches, writes, researches, coaches, and consults in his areas of expertise, including grading, assessment, and feedback. He also serves as editor of the Journal of School Administration Research and Development (JSARD), an open-access academic journal focusing on K-12 educational leadership.