Episode 017 of The Blueprint Schools Podcast, “Student Assessment: The Shift from Confusion to Clarity” continues Season 2’s exploration of The Shift—the essential changes Christian schools must make to thrive in today’s evolving educational landscape. In this episode, host Dana Kirchoff, founder of Blueprint Schools, is joined by lead consultant Ryan Kirchoff to examine one of the most transformative changes a school can make for student learning: rethinking grading. Together, they unpack how schools can shift toward assessment practices that promote clarity, growth, and genuine student understanding. Ryan shares his own journey of transformation—from grading everything to focusing only on evidence of learning—and offers practical steps any teacher or school leader can take to begin making this shift. The conversation challenges long-held assumptions about grades and invites educators to see assessment not as an endpoint, but as an ongoing dialogue that helps every student grow.
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Here is the blog series on student assessment, referenced in the podcast:
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