Province launches expert advisory body to examine EQAO testing and student outcomes: Minister blames trustees for the mess.

By Gazette Staff

December 3rd, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

Minister of Education, Paul Callandra, blames trustees for the poor EQAO results.

Paul Calandra, Minister of Educationsaid yesterday that: “The latest EQAO results show that more action is needed to support our students and help them succeed.”

“In too many cases, dysfunction and infighting among trustees have distracted boards from this core responsibility. I have taken the time to closely review these results, and we are taking decisive action to get students on track for stronger achievement.”

The results show that despite continued improvement in recent years as the government has continued to implement its back-to-basics curriculum, the pace of improvement in reading, writing and particularly math has not been adequate. Half of Grade 6 students and 42 per cent of Grade 9 students are not meeting the provincial standard in math and some student groups and school boards continue to face significant gaps in achievement.

EQAC results can be found HERE

For that reason, as the government continues to review school board governance to address the many long-standing issues that have been identified with trustee performance and which are impacting student achievement and outcomes, the province will also be launching an expert advisory body to examine EQAO testing. The new advisory body will be made up of two members who will be appointed early next year to 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.

The review will assess:

• Why student outcomes are not improving at the pace we need

Whether the curriculum and learning resources are clear, consistent and easy to use

How well teachers are being prepared and supported

Whether students have the tools they need to succeed

It will also examine:

Whether EQAO tests align with what students are being taught and are fair for all students

How data can be used to improve teaching, policy and funding decisions

Whether current supports for students who are struggling, including those with special needs, are working

How to better help students before they take standardized tests

The advisory body will also look at how EQAO tests are designed and delivered to ensure students can meaningfully demonstrate what they’ve learned.

The final report will present its findings and actionable recommendations to the Minister. These will be publicly available to guide improvements in supporting everyone involved in education. These recommendations will help ensure teachers have the tools to succeed and students have every opportunity to thrive. The government will also continue to use every tool at its disposal to ensure that school governance models in Ontario are focused on student outcomes and achievement, helping students succeed and preparing them for good-paying careers.

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.

• Ontario is providing historic levels of education funding in 2025–26, with an investment of $30.3 billion in Core Education Funding. This funding supports a back-to-basics approach focused on strengthening core skills in reading, writing and math, supporting students with special education needs, and expanding access to mental health services.

Additional Resources

• Strengthening student achievement in our schools
• Your child’s education: a parent guide to our school system
• Programs that support your child’s success
• More resources to support learning