Returning after a two-year pause due to the COVID pandemic, provincial EQAO results from the assessments held during the 2021-22 school year are now available online and serve as a data snapshot used alongside evaluation from other sources.
EQAO assessments include Grades 3 and 6 reading, writing and math; Grade 9 math; and Grade 10 reading and writing through the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). Results for Grand Erie showed improvements in some areas (Grade 6 reading and writing and Grade 10 OSSLT) and small declines in others (Grade 3 reading, writing and math; Grade 6 math), compared to pre-pandemic results. Grand Erie’s results are below provincial averages for the 2021-22 school year.
“We are proud of the work and resilience of our educators, support staff and administrators, who, despite the challenges and upheavals of the past two years, helped keep Grand Erie students on track,” said JoAnna Roberto, Director of Education. “We also know we have more work to do, and we are confident the focused strategies we have in place are having a positive impact and will continue to support student success and learning results.”
Comparisons to pre-pandemic results are reference points, as the EQAO tests administered for 2021-22 were a substantial change from the previous assessments, and were based on new Ontario curriculum for Grade 3, 6 and 9 math. For the first time, EQAO is reporting achievement results based on a new digitized delivery method and a modernized and digitized assessment process. For Grade 9 math, 2021-22 was the first time it was written by all students, rather than the previous separate tests for students in Academic and Applied math streams.
“The EQAO results, used along with other metrics, influence decisions around focus areas for the district,” said Roberto. “What we are seeing is an affirmation of the direction laid out in our Multi-Year Strategic Plan with learning goals and strategies to improve early literacy and math.”
Grand Erie’s final report for its 2021-22 Annual Learning and Operating Plan showed early positive outcomes as a result of the strategies implemented. In the past school year, Grade 9 math results improved from Semester 1 to 2, as well as general improvements in primary- grade math results from Term 1 to Term 2. Elementary literacy results also improved from Term 1 to Term 2.
The 2022-23 Annual Learning and Operating Plan continues to be responsive to the learning needs of students and has specific strategies towards a goal of improving learning results in early literacy, math and graduation.
EQAO results and corresponding strategies:
Grade 3
Results: Slight declines in reading, writing and math from pre-pandemic levels.
Area of Assessment
Reading GEDSB 62% Province 74%
Writing GEDSB 52% Province 65%
Mathematics GEDSB 48% Province 59%
Strategies: A focus on coaching supports and professional learning to support our educators’ capacity to implement responsive early literacy assessment and instruction using classroom-based reading assessments and coaching supports
Grade 6
Results: Improvements in reading and writing, and a slight decline in math from pre- pandemic levels
Area of Assessment
Reading GEDSB 78% Province 85%
Writing GEDSB 75% Province 84%
Mathematics GEDSB 34% Province 47%
Strategies: Provide professional learning pertaining to assessment for learning strategies and responsive instruction to effectively implement the Ontario mathematics curriculum and support student success
Grade 9 Math
Results: Given this was a new test based on new curriculum content, there is no comparable pre-pandemic data
Grade 9 Mathematics Assessment
Grade 9 Math Course GEDSB 39% Province 52%
Strategies: Professional learning for educators to support implementing responsive instruction to meet students’ learning needs in a de-streamed classroom
Grade 10 OSSLT
Results: Increase in achievement compared to pre-pandemic levels
Grade 10 OSSLT
Participation rate GEDSB 89% Province 90%
Success rate GEDSB 70% Province 82%
Strategies: Continued focus on responsive instruction and teaching and assessment to meet student needs
