The Ontario government has appointed an advisory body to review student achievement and assessment practices across the province, with a focus on improving results in reading, writing and math.
Education Minister Paul Calandra announced the review as part of the province’s efforts to strengthen accountability in Ontario’s education system and ensure students are meeting provincial standards.
William Robson, president and CEO of the C.D. Howe Institute, will serve as chair of the advisory body, while economist David R. Johnson of Wilfrid Laurier University has been named advisor. The group will examine provincial testing conducted by the Education Quality and Accountability Office, commonly known as EQAO, along with broader student achievement trends.
According to the province, the review will analyze the root causes behind student performance results and recommend strategies aimed at helping teachers, parents and students improve outcomes in core subjects. The final report will be delivered to the minister and released publicly once the review is complete.
The initiative comes as the province continues to emphasize what it describes as a “back to basics” approach to education, prioritizing core skills such as reading, writing and mathematics.
However, the announcement has drawn criticism from some education organizations in Ontario.
The Ontario Federation of Teachers and other groups have questioned the focus on standardized testing and advisory reviews, arguing the government should instead address classroom staffing levels, funding pressures and growing workload concerns faced by educators.
Teacher organizations have also raised concerns that expanding oversight powers over school boards through recently passed legislation could further centralize decision making at the provincial level.
Teacher organizations say centralized decision making could also affect boards such as the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board by reducing the influence of locally elected trustees who traditionally advocate for priorities in communities such as Peterborough, Northumberland County and Clarington. Union leaders warn that when provincial supervisors or directives override board authority, decisions about budgets, staffing levels and program delivery can be made at Queen’s Park rather than through locally accountable governance structures.
Ontario says it is investing $30.3 billion in core education funding for the 2025 26 school year, supporting programs ranging from special education services to student mental health supports.
The advisory body’s findings are expected to inform future education policy as the province seeks to improve student performance across Ontario schools.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)