EQAO results reveal impacts pandemic had on student math and literacy

The results from the first province-wide test of student achievement since the pandemic began may reveal how significant an impact remote learning had on math and literacy.

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) realeased its provincial data of assessments administered during the 2021–2022 school year Thursday, to "provide insight into students’ attitudes and perceptions around learning during the pandemic, and whether students are meeting curriculum expectations in reading, writing and mathematics at key stages of their education."

The EQAO says its evidence-based data can be analyzed by educators across the province as they review and develop strategies to support each student on their learning journey.

At Waterloo Region District School Board, 3,856 students participated in this year's assessment and 71.6 per cent achieved results above the provincial standard in reading, 62.5 per cent in writing and 57.7 per cent in math.

The Catholic board did considerably better with participation from 1,548 students and 76.9 per cent achieving results above the provincial standard in reading tests, 70.7 per cent in reading and 64.2 in math.

EQAO data show that Ontario’s student outcomes are similar to those of other jurisdictions, where the pandemic has had a more significant impact on mathematics than on literacy achievement.

In a press release, CEO Dan Koenig says the results at the local level can be used by educators to further identify gaps in learning in their schools and boards, and also to understand how their students approach and view their own learning.

The agency is also introducing a new interactive reporting tool the public can use to easily access the assessment data further, and assist with the analysis.

"EQAO aims to always offer reliable information that contributes to promoting positive student outcomes, as all of us are committed to student success in an ever-changing world,” Koenig said in the release

The new reporting tools include an individual school and school board search function, "that leverages interactive and user-friendly dashboards."

This EQAO says it hopes the results contribute to the ongoing conversation on student learning and achievement.

More than 600,000 students across the province completed EQAO assessments at the elementary and secondary levels during the 2021–2022 school year in the English- and French-language school systems.