Ontario government to bring back paper report cards

Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra speaks at an announcement at a school in Ottawa, on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Paper report cards are coming back to Ontario public schools.

The press secretary for Education Minister Paul Calandra confirmed on Wednesday that the ministry is working to make report cards available in paper format as well, “so families have simple access to their child’s progress.”

Schools in the Greater Toronto Area are mostly sending student report cards electronically via a dedicated portal or a password-protected email.

“Parents deserve clear and straightforward access to information about their child’s education,” Emma Testani said in a statement to CTV News Toronto.

“Our focus is on putting students first and making the system clearer and more consistent for families across Ontario.”

Testani did not say when schools will make the change.

The London Free Press reported earlier this week that Calandra told those at the Macdonald-Cartier Club last week that many people did not know how to download a report card.

“Parents say they need five different passwords in three different systems to get to the report,” Calandra reportedly said.

Ontario names members of advisory body

Meanwhile, the Ontario government on Wednesday named William Robson of the C.D. Howe Institute and David R. Johnson, an emeritus professor of economics at Wilfrid Laurier University, as members of its advisory body that will examine EQAO testing and review how Ontario supports student learning with a focus on math, reading and writing.

The results of the latest EQAO test revealed that half of Grade 6 students and 42 per cent of Grade 9 students are not meeting the provincial standard in math. Despite improvements, there has also been “inadequate progress” in reading and writing.

“The review will examine the root causes behind these results and recommend clear, actionable strategies to better support teachers, parents and students, all while continuing to support Ontario’s public education system,” the Ministry of Education said on Wednesday.

The findings of the advisory body will be made public, the government said.