Ontario Appoints Advisory Body to Improve Student Achievement

By Gazette Staff

March 4th, 2026

BURLINGTON, ON

Province announces the launch of a  comprehensive review of EQAO testing and student outcomes

Education Quality and Accountability Office is an independent provincial agency responsible for administering standardized tests in reading, writing, and mathematics to students in grades 3, 6, 9, and 10, with the goal of measuring student achievement and ensuring school accountability.

Preparing students for what is now a digital world with Artificial Intelligence something they will have to grapple with.

The Ontario government has appointed an expert advisory body to lead a comprehensive review of student achievement and assessment across the province, with a focus on improving results in reading, writing and math. This advisory body is part of the government’s ongoing work to ensure that the provincial education system is supporting student success and helping them reach their full potential.

“Student achievement must always come first in Ontario’s education system,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Education. “While there has been progress in recent years, too many students are still not meeting provincial standards. 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.”

William (Bill) Robson has been appointed Chair and David R. Johnson has been appointed Advisor to the Advisory Body on Student Achievement and Assessment. Mr. Robson has been President and CEO of the C.D. Howe Institute for the past 20 years and previously served for eight years on Ontario’s Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board, where he helped oversee certification standards for postsecondary programs and made recommendations to the government. Mr. Johnson is an emeritus professor of economics at Wilfrid Laurier University whose research for nearly two decades has focused on the economics of education, including student achievement, assessment practices and post secondary access and persistence.

This expert body will examine EQAO testing and lead a comprehensive review of how Ontario supports student learning, focusing on math, reading and writing, and closing achievement gaps. The review will examine the root causes behind these results and recommend clear, actionable strategies to better support teachers, parents and students, all while continuing to support Ontario’s public education system.

Once the review is complete, the final report will be presented to the Minister and made publicly available. These recommendations will help ensure teachers have the tools they need to do their best work and that students have every opportunity to succeed.

In November 2025, Ontario passed the Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025, which simplifies, streamlines and broadens the Minister of Education’s powers of oversight, including over school board finances, governance and program performance.