The Ontario government says it is creating a new advisory group to review how students are tested and supported in school. The decision comes after new EQAO results showed that many students in Grades 3, 6 and 9 are still not meeting the provincial standards, especially in math.
Education Minister Paul Calandra said the results prove that “more action is needed” to help students succeed. He also said that problems and disagreements among some school board trustees have distracted boards from focusing on student achievement.
While there has been some improvement in recent years, the government says the progress is too slow. Half of Grade 6 students and 42 per cent of Grade 9 students did not meet the math standard this year. Some student groups and school boards also continue to have large gaps in achievement.
To address this, the government will appoint two experts early next year to lead a full review of how Ontario supports student learning. They will look at reading, writing, math, and ways to close achievement gaps. The review will examine why student outcomes aren’t improving fast enough, whether teachers have the right support, and if students have the tools they need.
The advisory group will also study EQAO testing itself—how it’s designed, how it matches the curriculum, whether it’s fair, and how the data can help improve teaching and funding decisions.
A final report will be given to the Minister of Education and released to the public. The government says the recommendations will help ensure teachers have what they need to succeed and help students be better prepared for future careers.
