Ontario’s Education Minister to Launch Review of Standardized Testing
Ontario’s Education Minister, Paul Calandra, has announced plans to appoint advisers to evaluate the province’s standardized testing approach due to concerns over stagnant results, particularly in math.
For years, the province has grappled with math scores on the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) standardized tests, with only about half of Grade 6 students meeting the required standard.
In the latest results released this week, it was revealed that 64% of Grade 3 students, 51% of Grade 6 students, and 58% of Grade 9 students met the math standard. While there has been a slight increase from previous years, Minister Calandra believes these numbers still fall short of expectations.
To address this issue, the Education Minister will be appointing two individuals to form an advisory body early next year to conduct a thorough review. Their assessment will focus on identifying barriers to faster improvement, evaluating the clarity of the curriculum and learning resources, assessing teacher preparedness, and ensuring students have the necessary tools for success.
In addition to math, students are also evaluated in reading and writing in Grades 3 and 6, with Grade 10 students taking a literacy test as part of the province’s comprehensive assessment strategy.
Keyphrase: Ontario standardized testing