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Learning Standards Standards

What does a student learn in ?

Vermont leans on national frameworks rather than writing its own from scratch. The state adopted the Common Core for math and English in 2010, the Next Generation Science Standards in 2013, and aligns the rest of its subjects to recognized national bodies like SHAPE, ACTFL, and CASEL. The Agency of Education sets the expectations, and local districts decide how to teach toward them.

  • Vermont Agency of Education — Arts (NCAS-aligned)
  • Vermont Agency of Education — CTE / Career Ready Practices
  • Vermont Agency of Education — Computer Science (K-12 CS-aligned)
  • Vermont Agency of Education — Health Education (NHES-aligned)
  • Vermont Agency of Education — Physical Education (SHAPE-aligned)
  • Vermont Agency of Education — SEL (CASEL-aligned)
  • Vermont Agency of Education — World Languages (ACTFL-aligned)
Source: Vermont Common Core State Standards
The shape of K-12
A plain-language read of how the state runs school.
What students learn
Math and reading follow the Common Core from kindergarten through high school, with the usual K-8 progression opening into Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra II in the upper grades. Science is anchored in the NGSS and taught as something students figure out through investigation rather than memorize from a textbook. Social studies, the arts, world languages, and health round out the program, each tied to a national framework the state has adapted for Vermont classrooms.
How students are measured
The main state test is VTCAP, given every spring. Students in grades 3 through 9 sit for the reading and math sections, and students in grades 5, 8, and 11 add the science section. On top of that, a sample of Vermont fourth, eighth, and twelfth graders take NAEP every couple of winters, which lets the state see how its students compare with the rest of the country.
Frameworks adopted, by subject
The standards documents the state writes against in each subject.
Subject Framework Adopted Source
English Language Arts
Common Core State Standards
2010View
Mathematics
Common Core State Standards
2010View
Science
Common Core State Standards
2013View
Social Studies
Common Core State Standards
2014View
Computer Science & Digital Fluency
Vermont Agency of Education — Computer Science (K-12 CS-aligned)K-12 CS Framework-aligned
2016View
Arts: Visual Arts
Vermont Agency of Education — Arts (NCAS-aligned)NCAS-aligned
2014View
Arts: Dance
Vermont Agency of Education — Arts (NCAS-aligned)NCAS-aligned
2014View
Arts: Media Arts
Vermont Agency of Education — Arts (NCAS-aligned)NCAS-aligned
2014View
Arts: Music
Vermont Agency of Education — Arts (NCAS-aligned)NCAS-aligned
2014View
Arts: Theatre
Vermont Agency of Education — Arts (NCAS-aligned)NCAS-aligned
2014View
World Languages
Vermont Agency of Education — World Languages (ACTFL-aligned)ACTFL-aligned
2015View
Physical Education
Vermont Agency of Education — Physical Education (SHAPE-aligned)SHAPE-aligned
2024View
Health Education
Vermont Agency of Education — Health Education (NHES-aligned)NHES-aligned
2022View
Career Development & Occupational Studies
Vermont Agency of Education — CTE / Career Ready PracticesCCTC-aligned
2012View
Social Emotional Learning
Vermont Agency 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

VTCAP: ELA/Literacy (Grades 3-9)

Vermont's spring summative test in reading and writing for grades 3 through 9, aligned to Vermont's Common Core-based ELA standards.

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
State Summative

VTCAP: Mathematics (Grades 3-9)

Vermont's spring summative math test for grades 3 through 9, aligned to Vermont's Common Core-based math standards.

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
State Summative

VTCAP: Science (Grade 5)

Science assessment in grade 5, aligned to Vermont's NGSS-based science standards.

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
State Summative

VTCAP: Science (Grade 8)

Science assessment in grade 8, aligned to Vermont's NGSS-based science standards.

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
State Summative

VTCAP: Science (Grade 11)

Science assessment in grade 11, aligned to Vermont's NGSS-based science standards.

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
1,868
Assessments tracked
6
Most recent adoption
2024
Common questions
  • Does this state use Common Core?

    Yes for reading, writing, and math. Those standards were adopted in 2010 and still describe what students should know each year. Science follows the Next Generation Science Standards, adopted in 2013.

  • What is the spring test, and who takes it?

    It is called VTCAP. Students in grades 3 through 9 take the reading, writing, and math sections each spring. Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 also take the science section.

  • Which subjects beyond reading and math are part of the state standards?

    Schools follow state standards in science, social studies, the arts, world languages, physical education, health, computer science, career and technical education, and social and emotional learning. Only reading, writing, math, and science are covered by the spring state test.

  • How often do the standards change?

    The Vermont Agency of Education reviews each subject on its own cycle, so updates happen subject by subject rather than all at once. Recent refreshes include physical education in 2024, health in 2022, and social and emotional learning in 2020. Reading, writing, and math have been stable since 2010.

  • Where can a parent see what students learn in a specific grade?

    The grade pages on this site list the standards by subject for each grade. Pick a grade to see the reading, writing, math, and science expectations along with the other subjects schools teach that year.

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

Frameworks

Assessments