Ontario to Release Delayed EQAO Scores Amid Scrutiny

Ontario’s delayed Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) test scores, which assess students in reading, writing, and math, are set to be released on the morning of March 6, 2024. Education Minister Paul Calandra plans to address the public shortly after the announcement at Queen’s Park, following a significant delay in the usual publication timeline, which typically occurs in early fall.

Calandra had previously withheld these results, stating the need for a thorough review before making them public. His remarks sparked speculation about a potential decline in student performance. “We want to do something with the data to make sure that [students] can do even better,” he stated last week in the legislature, emphasizing the importance of examining scores on a board-by-board basis while engaging in discussions with various stakeholders regarding the effectiveness of the assessments.

Critics, including John Fraser, a Liberal Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) representing Ottawa South, accused the government of politicizing the results. Fraser remarked, “You’ve had seven and a half years [in office], and you made quite a mess. That’s why you’re withholding the EQAO results.”

Understanding the EQAO Tests

The EQAO assessments are conducted for students in grades 3 and 6 during the spring, with a Grade 9 math test and a Grade 10 literacy test required for graduation. Traditionally, the overall provincial results and individual board scores are made available to the public by September or early October. Teacher unions have voiced concerns about the effectiveness of these standardized tests, with some educators referring to them as “evil questions attacking Ontario.” They argue that teacher assessments provide a more accurate reflection of student achievement.

While schools utilize EQAO data for planning purposes, the critics question its relevance since students have often moved on to higher grades by the time results are published. Kathleen Woodcock, head of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, noted that while the scores serve as an important tool, they represent only one aspect of a broader assessment framework that includes report card data and teacher evaluations.

Past Performance and Future Implications

In the 2023-24 academic year, Grade 3 math scores showed stability, with 61 percent of students meeting the provincial standard, equivalent to a B grade. This figure is a slight increase from 59 percent in 2021-22 and 60 percent in 2022-23. For reading and writing, the results remained consistent with previous years, with 71 percent meeting the reading standard and 64 percent meeting the writing standard.

For Grade 6 students, only 50 percent achieved the provincial standard in math during the same period, while 82 percent met the reading standard, and 80 percent met the writing standard. Grade 9 math scores remained a concern, with just 54 percent of students meeting the standard, unchanged from the previous year. In contrast, Grade 10 literacy results continued to be the most promising, with 85 percent of students passing.

Calandra highlighted recent provincial investments in literacy and math resources, stating, “We want to see how those dollars that were spent, were they working in the fashion that we wanted them to work? And if they weren’t working in some boards, why were they not working?” This ongoing examination of educational resources and their effectiveness may shape future strategies for improving student performance across Ontario, particularly in light of the upcoming results.