Education Quality and Accountability Office
Encyclopedia
The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) is an arm’s-length Crown agency of the Government of Ontario
, Canada
, legislated into creation in 1996 in response to recommendations made by the Royal Commission on Learning in February 1995.
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. EQAO has an annual budget of approximately $33 million CDN.
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.
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.
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.
While technical reports 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.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, legislated into creation in 1996 in response to recommendations made by the Royal Commission on Learning in February 1995.
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. EQAO has an annual budget of approximately $33 million CDN.
Mandate
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:
- developing tests for students in both the French- and English-language publicly funded school systems,
- overseeing the administration and marking of tests, in co-operation with school boards,
- evaluating the quality and effectiveness of Ontario’s education system,
- managing Ontario's participation in national and international tests,
- researching and collecting information on assessing academic achievement,
- reporting to the public and to the Minister of Education and Training on the results of tests and generally on the quality and effectiveness of elementary and secondary school education and on the public accountability of boards,
- making recommendations to the Government of Ontario on any matter related to the quality or effectiveness of elementary and secondary school education or to the public accountability of boards.
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:
- Grade 3 (literacy and math tested at the end of the primary division);
- Grade 6 (literacy and math tested at the end of the junior division);
- Grade 9 (math tested in the first year of secondary school) and
- Grade 10 (literacy tested as a graduation requirement, known as the Ontario Secondary School Literacy TestOntario Secondary School Literacy TestThe Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test is a compulsory standardized test for high school students in Ontario who wish to obtain the Ontario Secondary School Diploma. It was established in 2001 by the Conservative government...
).
The question on EQAO’s tests are developed by Ontario educators and linked directly to the learning expectations in The Ontario Curriculum.
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.
Use of test results
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 and 80% of Grades 3 and 6 teachers 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.
Criticisms
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) and the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO).While technical reports 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.