The Ontario government is taking new action to address stagnant student achievement after the release of this year’s Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) results, which show limited improvement for students in Grades 3, 6, and 9.
In response, the province announced the creation of an expert advisory body that will conduct a comprehensive review of student assessment, curriculum clarity, and the supports available to teachers and learners.
The move comes as the government continues its broader review of school board governance, citing ongoing concerns with dysfunctional trustee behavior that the province says has distracted boards from prioritizing student outcomes.
Education Minister Paul Calandra said the latest EQAO results reinforce the need for decisive action.
While the government has promoted a “back-to-basics” approach over the last several years, improvements in reading, writing, and especially math have fallen short of expectations.
According to the data released Wednesday, half of all Grade 6 students and 42 percent of Grade 9 students are not meeting the provincial math standard. Persistent gaps remain across certain student groups and regions, prompting further review of how boards deliver learning.
The new advisory body — made up of two appointed experts expected to begin work early next year — will examine root causes behind the stagnating results and offer recommendations on how to strengthen academic achievement.
Their mandate includes evaluating curriculum clarity, the effectiveness of learning resources, teacher preparation, and the adequacy of tools available to students.
The review will also consider whether EQAO tests accurately reflect classroom learning and whether they are fair for all students.
Other key questions include how student data can better inform teaching, funding, and policy decisions, and whether current supports for struggling learners — including those with special education needs — are working.
The advisory body will also examine how EQAO tests are designed and delivered to ensure students are given a meaningful opportunity to demonstrate their learning.
Once complete, the panel’s report will be made public and submitted to the Minister of Education with recommendations aimed at closing achievement gaps, supporting teachers, and improving student success.
The province says the findings will guide the next phase of its education strategy, with a continued focus on governance reforms intended to keep boards focused on academic outcomes and preparing students for strong futures.