Statistics indicate broadband access at Ontario schools is showing rapid improvement.
As of August 31, 2020, broadband modernization had been completed at 2,475 schools, including 842 rural schools and 475 northern schools.
Work is currently in progress at 2,462 schools, including 251 rural schools and 26 northern schools.
To keep pace, the Provincial government is moving to standardize testing for online learners, and it is proposing to use the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) to oversee its development.
The EQAO will procure a firm to develop an online, adaptive testing platform.
The online, adaptive testing platform will also respond to past criticisms, ensuring testing accessibility for students with special education needs, increased equity for different student populations, and provide faster results.
For the 2020-21 school year, EQAO will be field-testing an online and adaptive assessments for Grade 9 math.