diff --git a/.github/scripts/generate_rationales.py b/.github/scripts/generate_rationales.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2ca66f0b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/scripts/generate_rationales.py
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Reads summary_table.md and writes rationales.csv.
+
+The output CSV contains one row per failed test case (Match = ❌) with blank
+Fixed and Reason columns, ready to be filled in by reviewer.
+
+Usage:
+    python generate_rationales.py <summary_table.md> <rationales.csv>
+"""
+
+import argparse
+import csv
+import re
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+def generate(summary_path: Path, output_path: Path) -> int:
+    if not summary_path.exists():
+        print(f"ERROR: {summary_path} not found", file=sys.stderr)
+        return 1
+
+    failed = []
+    for line in summary_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8").splitlines():
+        if not line.startswith("|"):
+            continue
+        cols = [c.strip() for c in line.strip("|").split("|")]
+        if len(cols) < 6:
+            continue
+        rule, typ, num, match = cols[0], cols[1], cols[2], cols[5]
+        if not re.match(r"CORE-\d+", rule):
+            continue
+        if "\u274c" in match:  # ❌
+            failed.append((rule, typ, num))
+
+    with output_path.open("w", newline="", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+        writer = csv.writer(f)
+        writer.writerow(["Rule", "Type", "Number", "Fixed", "Reason"])
+        for rule, typ, num in failed:
+            writer.writerow([rule, typ, num, "", ""])
+
+    print(f"Wrote {len(failed)} rationales to {output_path}")
+    return 0
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
+        description="Generate a rationales.csv template from summary_table.md."
+    )
+    parser.add_argument("summary", type=Path, help="Path to summary_table.md")
+    parser.add_argument("output", type=Path, help="Path for the output rationales.csv")
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+    sys.exit(generate(args.summary, args.output))
diff --git a/.github/scripts/run_validation.sh b/.github/scripts/run_validation.sh
index 091fa2d32..8c562b5ff 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/run_validation.sh
+++ b/.github/scripts/run_validation.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
-# run_validation.sh — iterates all positive/ and negative/ test cases for a rule,
+# run_validation.sh — iterates all negative/ and positive/ test cases for a rule,
 # runs the CORE engine against each, prints output to results.csv,
 # diffs against any expected results.csv, and writes two outputs:
 #   - $REPO_ROOT/validation_report.md  (detailed markdown, legacy/fallback)
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ print(json.dumps({
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Iterate test types and cases
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-for TEST_TYPE in positive negative; do
+for TEST_TYPE in negative positive; do
   TYPE_DIR="$RULE_DIR/$TEST_TYPE"
   [ -d "$TYPE_DIR" ] || continue
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/update-published-results.yml b/.github/workflows/update-published-results.yml
index 1912c9596..498dd9342 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/update-published-results.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/update-published-results.yml
@@ -122,6 +122,13 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           [ -f summary_table.md ] && cat summary_table.md >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY || true
 
+      # -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+      # 6a. Generate rationales.csv template from summary_table.md
+      # -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+      - name: Generate rationales CSV
+        if: always()
+        run: python .github/scripts/generate_rationales.py summary_table.md rationales.csv
+
       # -----------------------------------------------------------------------
       # 7. Upload reports as artifacts (regardless of outcome)
       # -----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -134,6 +141,7 @@ jobs:
             Published/**/results/results.csv
             summary_table.md
             detail_report.md
+            rationales.csv
           if-no-files-found: warn
 
       # -----------------------------------------------------------------------