The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) has a unique approach to gathering and incorporating feedback from students into its assessment and reporting programs.

Recently recognized as Best Practitioner at the 2024 International E-Assessment Awards, EQ AO will outline its practices for engaging students and incorporating their feedback into Ontario’s large-scale math and language assessments for Grade 3, 6, 9 and 10 students.

Started in 2018, the EQAO Student Engagement Committee gathers representatives from across Ontario’s school system. Students enrolled in grades 7-12 provide feedback on their experience with assessments, and the province’s school system. Presenters will share the process for recruiting and engaging with a diverse committee that represents 2 million students across Ontario.

Participants will hear how student feedback guided the development and rollout of EQAO’s e-assessment system, and specific features of EQAO assessments that were inspired and informed by students.

The committee also engages with various teams across the agency, offering their perspectives on themes for reading passages and math items, areas for research, equity and diversity considerations, insights into questionnaire results, and the agency’s communications.

The presentation will include best practices for facilitating productive conversations in an inclusive, supportive environment for diverse students and other stakeholders.