For Taxpayers:

• Increase, through a base of clear and reliable information, public ability to make judgments about the quality of education available across Ontario
• Report on the success of our students measured against accepted, understandable standards in order to evaluate and improve learning
• Ability to analyze student achievement in Ontario in relation to national and international standards
• Improve public understanding of the ways in which students’ knowledge and skills are assessed
• Report to the general public on the state of Ontario’s schools, with data on achievement, and the contextual factors that influence student learning

For Students:

• Provide students with clear and timely information on their progress
• Reinforce student successes and identify areas where attention is needed
• Provide information and direction which give students insight to plan for their future
• Demonstrate to students that the knowledge and skills required of them are consistent across the province
• Strengthen students’ involvement in continuous learning and improvement

For Parents:

• Make parents increasingly aware of content taught and standards expected in our schools
• Create opportunities for timely intervention to support student improvement
• Clarify expectations for students’ academic performance at key ages and stages through which parents can evaluate their children’s progress
• Give parents information they can use when talking to teachers about their children’s progress

For Teachers:

• Help teachers to ascertain students’ knowledge and skills, so they may intervene appropriately to foster improvement
• Recognize the importance of the teacher’s daily observations and records in both good teaching and good classroom assessment
• Model and publicize excellent assessment practices which can serve as examples for daily classroom evaluation and help teachers improve their assessment skills
• Provide common language and examples of student achievement to ensure straightforward reporting
• Address public criticism of the education system by providing teachers with clear and credible data on student achievement and strategies for improvement.