Is EQAO working? This is what needs to change, educators say

EQAO is going to be put to the test.

With less-than-impressive gains in the provincial assessments of reading, writing and math — and with results that vary among schools, boards, and the public, Catholic and French systems — Education Minister Paul Calandra has ordered a close examination of what’s behind the numbers.

Experts and educators in the system say the review is a chance to look not only at the so-called EQAO tests — administered by the arm’s-length Education Quality and Accountability Office — but also what changes could be made to better support teachers, principals and students.

“As Ontarians, we all want the very best for our kids, so the best possible thing to do would be to try and understand better what accounts for the differences,” said Kelly Gallagher-Mackay, an as