EQAO

A review of the provincewide testing of grade 3, 6, 9, and 10 students is underway.

Education Minister Paul Calandra has established an advisory panel in hopes of understanding why many students are not meeting provincial standards.

“While there has been progress in recent years, too many students are still not meeting provincial standards,” states Calandra in a release.

“Our government will continue using every tool available to keep Ontario’s education system focused on accountability and a back-to-basics approach to support student achievement, so that students can reach their full potential and be prepared for good-paying, rewarding careers.”

The panel will examine all aspects of the testing, including the tests themselves.

It will also look at how Ontario is supporting student learning, focusing on math, reading and writing, and closing achievement gaps.

The government is also looking for a review of the root causes behind recent test results, and that panel come up with recommended actionable strategies to better support teachers, parents and students.

The Ministry of Education states that the recommendations will ensure teachers have the tools they need to do their best work and that students have every opportunity to succeed.

The most recent testing revealed many students continue to struggle with math, with only 51% of grade 6 students and 58% of grade 9s meeting provincial standards.

Only 56% of grade 3 students met the provincial standards in the writing test.