What are academic standards?
A plain-language explanation of academic standards and how they are used.
Academic standards describe what students should know and be able to do at each grade level or course. They set learning goals; they are not a curriculum and do not dictate how to teach.
In the United States, each state adopts its own standards. Some states use or adapt national models such as the Common Core State Standards or the Next Generation Science Standards; others write their own. Your state's official standards are always the authoritative source for your classroom.
Use the state selector on subject pages in the Standards & Professional References hub to find your state's education agency.