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Ontario’s Math Struggles Spark Provincial Review of Student Testing

Ontario’s latest standardized test results reveal that math achievement remains a serious concern across the province , with many students failing to meet expected benchmarks. The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) released its 2024–2025 assessment data this week, showing that only 51% of Grade 6 students and 58% of Grade 9 students met the provincial math standard , while Grade 3 students fared slightly better at 64%. Despite modest improvements compared to previous years, the results underscore a persistent gap in student performance. Education Minister Paul Calandra acknowledged that progress has been too slow, announcing the creation of a two-member advisory body to review Ontario’s approach to standardized testing and curriculum delivery . The review will examine whether current teaching strategies, resources, and assessment methods are effectively supporting student learning. The EQAO results also highlighted disparities among student groups and school boards ,...

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Trump Proposes $5 Million 'Gold Cards' for Path to U.S. Citizenship

 

In a recent announcement, President Donald Trump revealed a new initiative to replace the existing EB-5 investor visa program with a $5 million "gold card" visa. This new visa would provide wealthy foreign nationals with U.S. residency and a path to citizenship.

The EB-5 program, established in 1990, allowed foreign investors to obtain green cards by investing a minimum of $1 million in a U.S. business that created or preserved at least ten jobs. However, the program has faced criticism for fraud and inefficiency. The new "gold card" visa aims to address these issues by raising the investment threshold and ensuring that applicants are thoroughly vetted.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that the "Trump Gold Card" would replace the EB-5 visas within two weeks. The new program is expected to attract wealthy individuals who will contribute significantly to the U.S. economy through taxes, job creation, and investment.

Trump's proposal has sparked debate, with some praising the potential economic benefits and others questioning the ethical implications of selling citizenship. The president believes that the "gold card" visa will be a successful and lucrative program, potentially selling up to 10 million cards to reduce the national deficit.

As the program rolls out, it remains to be seen how it will impact the U.S. immigration landscape and whether it will achieve the desired economic outcomes.



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