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To:
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Directors of Education
Principals—Elementary Schools
Principals—Secondary Schools
Board Liaisons—Elementary and Secondary Schools
Board Liaisons—Information Technology
School Authorities
Superintendents
Student Information System Vendors
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From:
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Dan Koenig, Chief Executive Officer
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Date:
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Wednesday, August 27, 2025
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Subject:
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EQAO Updates—August 2025
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As a new school year is almost upon us, please find below important information about the release of the EQAO assessment results for 2024–2025, the 2025–2026 assessment dates, reminders about updating board and school contacts and accessing the EQAO reporting tool.
Release of the 2024–2025 EQAO Results
Public Release of Results
The release of the provincial, school and board results is planned for fall 2025.
Schools and boards will receive the following results:
- Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)
- Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics
- Assessments of Reading, Writing and Mathematics, Primary and Junior Divisions
- Grade 9 and Primary and Junior Division Mathematic Strands and Skills reports
- Teacher and Principal Questionnaire reports (board-level only)
Boards will also receive their results under embargo before they are released to the public. Additionally, this year, an embargoed version of the interactive Power BI reports will be accessible through the EQAO data reporting tool.
Beginning this fall, EQAO will reintroduce cohort reports as part of its reporting framework. The 2024–2025 cohort reports will highlight the progress of fully participating student groups from 2021–2022 to 2024–2025, tracked by subject area, and will include the following:
- Students from Grade 3 to Grade 6 in reading, writing and mathematics
- Students from Grade 6 to Grade 9 in mathematics
The cohort results for the OSSLT assessments will be part of 2025–2026 reporting.
Further information about the release of the 2024‒2025 EQAO results will be provided at the start of the 2025‒2026 academic year.
Individual Student Reports
Individual Student Reports (ISRs) for the OSSLT and Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics for the 2024–2025 academic year are still available to school administrators through the e-assessment system under the Reports tab. The results for the Primary- and Junior-Division Assessments of Reading, Writing and Mathematics will be available at the end of September.
Update EQAO School and Board Contacts
As we prepare for a new assessment administration period, we would like to remind you to update school and board contact information for each of the following roles, if any information has changed:
- Designated EQAO contact for the Primary- and Junior-Division Assessments of Reading, Writing and Mathematics
- Designated EQAO contact for the OSSLT
- Designated EQAO contact for the Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics
- Designated EQAO information technology (IT) contact
It is essential that the names of the designated contacts be kept up to date, as EQAO relies on these designated contacts to receive communications from the agency, pass information on to the appropriate school and board staff, and support the administration and reporting of the assessments.
Please e-mail EQAO at info@eqao.com about any contact information changes for your school and/or school board. Alternatively, you can update contact information for either a board profile or a school principal profile through the secure site via the EQAO login page.
Board Profile Update
- Select Use EQAO’s secure systems to upload student data to the Student Data Collection system (SDC) and access and update school and board contact information.
- Scroll down to General Information.
- Select Board Profile.
- Select the name that needs to be updated and make the appropriate changes.
School Principal Profile Update
- Select Use EQAO’s secure systems to upload student data to the Student Data Collection system (SDC) and access and update school and board contact information.
- Scroll down to General Information.
- Select Update Principal Information.
- Use the sample template file to update principal information as necessary.
- Submit the updated file using the Submit button found on the Update Principal Information page.
General Information about the Student Data Collection System (SDC)
To access the updated specifications and other information, log into the secure section of EQAO’s website and locate the link Student Data Collection System—Resources on your home page. Here, you will find the following:
- Updated Data Definitions for each assessment, which include field names and the corresponding valid data values
- Updated File-Submission Specifications, which outline requirements for submitting files and for determining which students and schools to include
- Updated Business and Validation Rules
You will also find “Accounting and Reporting EQAO Results for Students with Unique or Special Circumstances.” Please refer to this document when submitting information on student participation in EQAO assessments.
B2B User List Updates
EQAO has provided school board and IT staff with a report that they can use to audit user accounts in preparation for accessing the 2024–2025 reports. Boards are advised to review their user list and use either of the following methods to update user access:
- API Integration: Add or remove school and board users in bulk, using an API.
- MyAccess Portal: Users requiring access can submit a request through the easy-to-use portal. Once the request is received, a designated approver from your board will review and decide whether to grant access. This approach is recommended when there are minimal changes or a small number of users in your board.
It is important that user lists be reviewed and updated by the beginning of each school year, and on an ongoing basis, to ensure accurate and seamless access to the EQAO data reporting tool for your board and schools.
For instructions on how to access the reporting tool, please visit the User Guide: Secure Access to the EQAO Data Reporting Tool. If you have any additional questions, please contact info@eqao.com.
New Research Reports
Below you will find three research reports available in the EQAO data reporting tool.
From Questions to Scores: How Item Response Theory Enhances EQAO Assessments
This brief and accessible publication presents Item Response Theory (IRT), a statistical method used by EQAO and other large-scale assessment organizations worldwide. IRT enhances the fairness and accuracy of assessments in reading, writing and mathematics.
Areas of Strengths and Growth Opportunities for Students Who Achieved Level 2 on the Mathematics Component of the 2022–2023 EQAO Assessment of Reading, Writing and Mathematics, Primary Division
This report offers insights into the mathematical strengths and areas for growth among Grade 3 students who achieved Level 2 on the mathematics component of EQAO’s Assessment of Reading, Writing and Mathematics, Primary Division. Examples, instructional implications and recommendations for educators are also included in this report. Ontario school boards can use this resource to deepen their knowledge of mathematical learners.
Making Gains: Insights from Ontario School Boards with Consistent Improvement in EQAO Mathematics Achievement
This brief showcases seven themes that emerged when EQAO spoke with school boards that have shown improvement in mathematics achievement since 2021–2022. Each theme is illustrated with quotes and examples, offering practical insights into successful strategies for boosting student performance.
2025–2026 EQAO Assessments: Key Dates and Information
Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)
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Fall 2025
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Board upload window
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Monday, September 22 to Friday, October 3, 2025
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Principal access available
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Monday, October 20, 2025
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Administration window
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Tuesday, November 4 (6:00 a.m. ET) to Tuesday, December 2, 2025 (6:00 p.m. ET)*
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Individual student results
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Reported by the end of January 2026
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Spring 2026
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Board upload window
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Monday, February 2 to Friday, February 13, 2026
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Principal access available
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Monday, March 2, 2026
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Administration window
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Monday, March 23 (6:00 a.m. ET) to Monday, April 20, 2026 (6:00 p.m. ET)*
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Individual student results
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Reported by the end of May 2026
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*Monday, December 1 and Tuesday, December 2, 2025, along with Monday, April 20, 2026, should be reserved for students who may have missed the originally scheduled dates.
Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics
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Winter 2026
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Board upload window
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Monday, November 17 to Friday, November 28, 2025
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Principal access available
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Friday, December 12, 2025
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Administration window
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Wednesday, January 7 (6:00 a.m. ET) to Friday, January 30, 2026 (6:00 p.m. ET)
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Individual student results
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Reported after each student has completed the assessment
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Spring 2026
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Board upload window
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Wednesday, April 15 to Friday, April 24, 2026
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Principal access available
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Friday, May 8, 2026
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Administration window
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Thursday, May 28 (6:00 a.m. ET) to Wednesday, June 24, 2026 (6:00 p.m. ET)
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Individual student results
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Reported after each student has completed the assessment
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Primary- and Junior-Division Assessments of Reading, Writing and Mathematics
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Spring 2026
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Board upload window
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Monday, February 23 to Friday, March 6, 2026
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Principal access available
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Wednesday, April 8, 2026
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Administration window
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Tuesday, May 5 (6:00 a.m. ET) to Tuesday, June 9, 2026 (6:00 p.m. ET)
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Individual student results
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Reported by the end of September 2026
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National and International Assessments
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Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)—Grade 4 and Grade 8 Students
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Board upload window
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Monday, October 20 to Friday, October 31, 2025
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Administration window (tentative)
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Monday, March 9 or Monday, March 16 to Friday, April 17, 2026
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Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)—Grade 4 Students
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Board upload window
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Data will be extracted from the TIMSS upload
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Administration window (tentative)
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Monday, April 20 to Friday, May 29, 2026
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Pan-Canadian Assessment Program (PCAP)—Grade 8 Students
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Board upload window
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Data will be extracted from the TIMSS upload
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Administration window (tentative)
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Monday, March 30 to Friday, May 1, 2026
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School Outreach Presentations
EQAO staff are available to provide support in reviewing EQAO results, giving an overview of EQAO’s e-assessment system, administration guidelines and resources, and much more! If you would like to arrange a presentation from a member of the School Support and Outreach team, please e-mail info@eqao.com.
Reminders
- Technical Readiness—Board IT Contacts
The Network Readiness Checklist will be reset in early September for the 2025–2026 school year. Board IT contacts are asked to complete the Network Readiness Checklist by October 20, 2025. Board IT contacts must complete the checklist before assessments can be administered. The checklist is available through the board IT e-assessment system account.
Thank you for your continued support. EQAO values your commitment to student learning and to improving student outcomes.
