Ontario students are making progress in math, but achievement gaps remain across the province, according to the province’s latest standardized test results released Thursday.
Education Minister Paul Calandra said the 2025-26 results from the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) show improvements in math scores in Grades 3, 6 and 9, while literacy results “remain strong,” with nearly nine in 10 students meeting the provincial standard in reading and writing by Grade 6.
Despite the gains, Calandra said the results show there is still work to be done. “Too many students continue to struggle, achievement gaps persist and results remain uneven across the province,” he said.
Calandra said the province’s responsibility is to use the data to make sure students get the support they need, a task he said is shared between the Ministry of Education and school boards. He said the ministry and boards “must work together to identify what is working, address areas where students are falling behind and ensure that resources and supports are reaching the students who need them most.”
Earlier this year, Calandra appointed an independent advisory body on student achievement and assessment, which he said will help identify successful approaches and recommend further action across every school board in the province.
The minister said the government is not waiting for that work to wrap up. He has directed the Ministry of Education to work directly with every school board to review its Student Achievement Plan, monitor progress and report back to him regularly. Calandra said the plans help boards use local assessment results to identify struggling students and set out concrete actions to improve outcomes, adding that strong foundational skills in reading, writing and math are essential to a student’s success. “The earlier we identify a student who needs additional support, the sooner we can take action,” he said.
The results also raised concerns about a significant increase in the number of students exempted from assessments in some school boards. Exemptions are intended for students who are unable to complete an assessment even with permitted accommodations. Calandra said he has directed EQAO leadership to investigate what is driving the increase and whether further action is needed.
“Our focus is clear: put student achievement first, use evidence to identify where improvements are needed and take action to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed,” Calandra said, adding the government will continue working with school boards, educators and education partners to strengthen foundational skills, address achievement gaps and give teachers the tools and resources they need in the classroom.
“Every student deserves the opportunity to leave school with the strong reading, writing and math skills they need to pursue further education, enter the skilled trades, find rewarding careers and build a successful future,” he said.
