The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) is an arm’s-length Crown agency of the Government of Ontario, Canada, legislated into creation [1] in 1996 in response to recommendations made by the Royal Commission on Learning in February 1995.[2]
EQAO is governed by a board of directors appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. The chair of the board is currently Brian L. Desbiens.[3] EQAO has an annual budget of approximately $33 million CDN.
Contents |
EQAO’s mandate is to conduct province-wide tests at key points in every student’s primary, junior and secondary education and report the results to educators, parents and the public.
The specific responsibilities of the Office include:
EQAO conducts province-wide tests annually. Students attending publicly funded elementary and secondary schools in Ontario are required to take the respective tests at their grade level:
The question on EQAO’s tests are developed by Ontario educators and linked directly to the learning expectations in The Ontario Curriculum.[4]
For students with special education needs, some accommodations that are consistent with regular classroom assessment practices are permitted on the provincial tests. Special provisions may also be permitted for English language learners.
Educators use the results of Ontario’s province-wide tests in combination with other important information, such as report cards and demographic information, to help improve student learning and achievement. According to a 2010 survey by EQAO, more than 95% of elementary school principals[5] and 80% of Grades 3 and 6 teachers [6] use EQAO test results to identify areas of strength and areas for improvement in reading, writing and math programs. More than 95% of principals also reported that they use the data to guide overall school improvement initiatives.
Ontario students have made significant progress over the years in meeting the provincial standard in reading, writing and mathematics. For example, in 2010, more than 28 000 additional Grade 6 students met the provincial standard in reading and writing than in 2000, and more than 12 000 additional Grade 6 students met the provincial standard in math than in 2000.[7]
The establishment of the EQAO, and in particular standardized testing in Ontario, has been criticized by a number of groups, including the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) [8] and the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO). [9]
While technical reports [10] are available on the agency’s Web site, some have criticized that the Office publishes little technical information about its tests. Some have also criticized that EQAO’s staff tends to be drawn from the provincial education establishment. For example, former chair Charles Pascal, is a former deputy minister of education. The Office's impartiality has been questioned when it has issued test results that might be taken as reflecting well on the provincial government.