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Learning Standards Standards

What does a student learn in ?

Maryland leans on national frameworks and then layers its own end-of-course tests on top. Reading and math run on the Common Core, science runs on the Next Generation Science Standards, and social studies follows a state framework rewritten in 2021. The distinctive piece is how high school works. Instead of one big graduation test, students sit for separate end-of-course exams in Algebra I, English 10, Biology, and US Government.

  • Maryland State Department of Education — Arts (NCAS-aligned)
  • Maryland State Department of Education — CTE / Career Ready Practices
  • Maryland State Department of Education — Computer Science (K-12 CS-aligned)
  • Maryland State Department of Education — Health Education (NHES-aligned)
  • Maryland State Department of Education — Physical Education (SHAPE-aligned)
  • Maryland State Department of Education — SEL (CASEL-aligned)
  • Maryland State Department of Education — World Languages (ACTFL-aligned)
Source: Maryland Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards
The shape of K-12
A plain-language read of how the state runs school.
What students learn
Math follows the Common Core from kindergarten through eighth grade, then moves into Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II in high school. Reading and writing follow the Common Core as well, with students working from stories, articles, and primary sources rather than worksheets. Science is taught as something students do. By fifth grade they are running investigations and explaining what they found, not just memorizing parts of a cell.
How students are measured
The spring test is MCAP, which covers reading and math in grades 3 through 8. Science gets its own test, MISA, in grades 5 and 8. High schoolers take end-of-course exams as they finish Algebra I, English 10, Biology, and US Government, so the testing is spread across four years rather than piled into one. A small sample of fourth, eighth, and twelfth graders also sit for NAEP every couple of winters, which is how states get compared to each other.
Frameworks adopted, by subject
The standards documents the state writes against in each subject.
Subject Framework Adopted Source
English Language Arts
Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards
2010View
Mathematics
Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards
2010View
Science
Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards
2013View
Social Studies
Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards
2021View
Computer Science & Digital Fluency
Maryland State Department of Education — Computer Science (K-12 CS-aligned)K-12 CS Framework-aligned
2016View
Arts: Visual Arts
Maryland State Department of Education — Arts (NCAS-aligned)NCAS-aligned
2014View
Arts: Dance
Maryland State Department of Education — Arts (NCAS-aligned)NCAS-aligned
2014View
Arts: Media Arts
Maryland State Department of Education — Arts (NCAS-aligned)NCAS-aligned
2014View
Arts: Music
Maryland State Department of Education — Arts (NCAS-aligned)NCAS-aligned
2014View
Arts: Theatre
Maryland State Department of Education — Arts (NCAS-aligned)NCAS-aligned
2014View
World Languages
Maryland State Department of Education — World Languages (ACTFL-aligned)ACTFL-aligned
2015View
Physical Education
Maryland State Department of Education — Physical Education (SHAPE-aligned)SHAPE-aligned
2024View
Health Education
Maryland State Department of Education — Health Education (NHES-aligned)NHES-aligned
2022View
Career Development & Occupational Studies
Maryland State Department of Education — CTE / Career Ready PracticesCCTC-aligned
2012View
Social Emotional Learning
Maryland State 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

MCAP: ELA/Literacy (Grades 3-8)

Maryland's spring summative test in reading and writing for grades 3 through 8, aligned to the Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards for ELA.

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
State Summative

MCAP: Mathematics (Grades 3-8)

Maryland's spring summative math test for grades 3 through 8, aligned to the Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards for Mathematics.

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
State Summative

MCAP: Algebra I (End-of-Course)

End-of-course assessment in Algebra I, administered upon completion of the course in high school.

When given:
by course completion
Frequency:
by course completion
Official source
State Summative

MCAP: English 10 (End-of-Course)

End-of-course assessment in English 10, administered upon completion of the course in high school.

When given:
by course completion
Frequency:
by course completion
Official source
State Summative

MISA: Science (Grade 5)

Maryland Integrated Science Assessment in grade 5, aligned to Maryland's NGSS-based science standards.

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
State Summative

MISA: Science (Grade 8)

Maryland Integrated Science Assessment in grade 8, aligned to Maryland's NGSS-based science standards.

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
State Summative

MISA: Biology (End-of-Course)

End-of-course assessment in high school biology, aligned to Maryland's NGSS-based science standards.

When given:
by course completion
Frequency:
by course completion
Official source
State Summative

MCAP: Government (End-of-Course)

End-of-course assessment in high school US Government, aligned to the Maryland Social Studies Framework.

When given:
by course completion
Frequency:
by course completion
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
1,857
Assessments tracked
9
Most recent adoption
2024
Common questions
  • What's the spring test, and who takes it?

    Students in grades 3 through 8 take the MCAP in reading and math each spring. Grades 5 and 8 also take the MISA science test. High schoolers take end-of-course tests in Algebra I, English 10, Biology, and Government when they finish the course.

  • Does Maryland use Common Core?

    Reading, writing, and math standards are based on the Common Core, adopted in 2010 and now called the Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards. Science follows the Next Generation Science Standards, adopted in 2013. Social studies runs on a state framework refreshed in 2021.

  • Which subjects are required beyond reading, math, and science?

    Maryland sets standards for social studies, computer science, the arts, world languages, physical education, health, and career and technical education. There is also a social emotional learning framework adopted in 2020. The arts standards cover visual art, dance, media arts, music, and theatre.

  • How often do the standards change?

    The Maryland State Department of Education revises each subject on its own cycle, usually every seven to ten years. Health was updated in 2022, physical education in 2024, and social studies in 2021. Math and reading have held steady since 2010.

  • Where can I see what students are expected to learn this year?

    The grade-by-grade standards are listed on this page. Pick a subject and grade level to see the specific skills students work on, along with the assessments tied to that grade.

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

Frameworks

Assessments