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Learning Standards Standards

What does a student learn in ?

Maine sets its own course of study, called the Maine Learning Results, and revises it subject by subject rather than on a single statewide cycle. The state wrote its own math and reading expectations in 2011 instead of signing onto the Common Core. Science was refreshed in 2019 around the national NGSS framework. The result is a homegrown spine with national frameworks bolted on where Maine wanted them.

  • Maine Department of Education — Arts (NCAS-aligned)
  • Maine Department of Education — CTE / Career Ready Practices
  • Maine Department of Education — Computer Science (K-12 CS-aligned)
  • Maine Department of Education — Health Education (NHES-aligned)
  • Maine Department of Education — Physical Education (SHAPE-aligned)
  • Maine Department of Education — SEL (CASEL-aligned)
  • Maine Department of Education — World Languages (ACTFL-aligned)
Source: Maine Maine Learning Results
The shape of K-12
A plain-language read of how the state runs school.
What students learn
Math and reading follow the 2011 Maine Learning Results from kindergarten through high school, with the usual elementary arithmetic giving way to algebra and geometry in the middle grades. Science is taught the NGSS way, where students run experiments and build explanations rather than memorize a textbook. Social studies, the arts, world languages, and health each have their own state frameworks aligned to the relevant national bodies. Computer science and social emotional learning round out the picture.
How students are measured
The headline test is the Maine Through Year Assessment in reading and math, given to students in grades 3 through 8 in several short windows across the school year rather than one long spring sitting. Science gets its own sit-down test in grades 5, 8, and 11. Every junior takes the SAT on a school day, free of charge, as the state's high school accountability measure. A rotating sample of fourth, eighth, and twelfth graders also sit for the NAEP.
Frameworks adopted, by subject
The standards documents the state writes against in each subject.
Subject Framework Adopted Source
English Language Arts
Maine Learning Results
2011View
Mathematics
Maine Learning Results
2011View
Science
Maine Learning Results
2019View
Social Studies
Maine Learning Results
2019View
Computer Science & Digital Fluency
Maine Department of Education — Computer Science (K-12 CS-aligned)K-12 CS Framework-aligned
2016View
Arts: Visual Arts
Maine Department of Education — Arts (NCAS-aligned)NCAS-aligned
2014View
Arts: Dance
Maine Department of Education — Arts (NCAS-aligned)NCAS-aligned
2014View
Arts: Media Arts
Maine Department of Education — Arts (NCAS-aligned)NCAS-aligned
2014View
Arts: Music
Maine Department of Education — Arts (NCAS-aligned)NCAS-aligned
2014View
Arts: Theatre
Maine Department of Education — Arts (NCAS-aligned)NCAS-aligned
2014View
World Languages
Maine Department of Education — World Languages (ACTFL-aligned)ACTFL-aligned
2015View
Physical Education
Maine Department of Education — Physical Education (SHAPE-aligned)SHAPE-aligned
2024View
Health Education
Maine Department of Education — Health Education (NHES-aligned)NHES-aligned
2022View
Career Development & Occupational Studies
Maine Department of Education — CTE / Career Ready PracticesCCTC-aligned
2012View
Social Emotional Learning
Maine Department of Education — SEL (CASEL-aligned)CASEL-aligned
2020View
Assessments
The tests students take across K-12, grouped by purpose.

Other

Tests that do not fit the buckets above.

State Summative

Maine Through Year Assessment: ELA/Literacy (Grades 3-8)

Through-year ELA/literacy assessment for grades 3 through 8, aligned to the Maine Learning Results. Administered in multiple windows during the school year.

When given:
multiple windows across the year
Frequency:
multiple windows annually
Official source
State Summative

Maine Through Year Assessment: Mathematics (Grades 3-8)

Through-year mathematics assessment for grades 3 through 8, aligned to the Maine Learning Results.

When given:
multiple windows across the year
Frequency:
multiple windows annually
Official source
State Summative

Maine Science Assessment (Grade 5)

Science assessment in grade 5, aligned to the Maine Learning Results for Science (NGSS-based).

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
State Summative

Maine Science Assessment (Grade 8)

Science assessment in grade 8, aligned to the Maine Learning Results for Science (NGSS-based).

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
State Summative

Maine Science Assessment (Grade 11)

Science assessment in grade 11, aligned to the Maine Learning Results for Science (NGSS-based).

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
National College Readiness

SAT School Day

Maine administers the SAT School Day to all 11th-grade students free of charge as part of the state's accountability system.

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
National Monitoring

NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress)

Federally administered sample-based assessment in reading, mathematics, science, and writing. NAEP results inform state-by-state comparisons rather than individual student or school accountability.

When given:
biennial in winter
Frequency:
every two years
Official source
Browse by grade and subject
Pick a cell to see exactly what students learn that year.
Subjects covered
15
Grade levels
14
Standards on file
1,835
Assessments tracked
7
Most recent adoption
2024
Common questions
  • Does Maine use Common Core?

    Not by that name. The state writes its own standards, called the Maine Learning Results, which cover the same core reading, writing, and math ground. Science follows the Next Generation Science Standards.

  • What tests do students take each year?

    In grades 3 through 8, students take the Maine Through Year Assessment in reading and math, given in several windows across the school year instead of one spring test. Science is tested in grades 5, 8, and 11. Every 11th grader also takes the SAT School Day for free.

  • Which subjects are required beyond reading and math?

    The Maine Learning Results cover eight content areas: English language arts, math, science, social studies, world languages, visual and performing arts, health and physical education, and career and education development. Computer science and social emotional learning have their own state frameworks as well.

  • How often do the standards change?

    The Department of Education reviews each subject on a rolling cycle, usually every five to ten years. Reading and math have been steady since 2011, science was refreshed in 2019, and physical education was updated most recently in 2024.

  • Where can families see what students learn in a given grade?

    Pick a subject and grade on this page to see the actual standards students work on that year, written in plain language with examples of what the work looks like.

Sources
Every page link goes back to the state's own document.

Frameworks

Assessments