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State Academic Standards

The Pennsylvania State Board of Education has adopted academic standards in 12 subject areas.  The academic standards are benchmark measures that define what students should know and be able to do at specified grade levels beginning in grade 3. The standards are promulgated as state regulations. As such, they must be used as the basis for curriculum and instruction in Pennsylvania's public schools. State requirements for curriculum, instruction and assessment can be found in the Board's Chapter 4 regulations, available online at: Chapter 4.

Below you will find links to the State Board of Education approved state academic standards. These standards also are avilable online on the Pennsylvania Code Web Site at: http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter4/s4.83.html.



Academic Standards Approved by the State Board of Education

Arts and Humanities (PDF)
Academic Standards for Arts and Humanities took effect upon their publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on January 11, 2003

Career Education and Work (PDF)
Academic Standards for Career Education and Work took effect upon their publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on July 8, 2006

Civics and Government (PDF)
Academic Standards for Civics and Government took effect upon their publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on January 11, 2003

Economics (PDF)
Academic Standards for Economics took effect upon their publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on January 11, 2003

Environment and Ecology (PDF)
Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology took effect upon their publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on January 5, 2002

Family and Consumer Sciences (PDF)
Academic Standards for Family and Consumer Sciences took effect upon their publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on January 11, 2003

Geography (PDF)
Academic Standards for Geography took effect upon their publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on January 11, 2003

Health, Safety and Physical Education (PDF)
Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education took effect upon their publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on January 11, 2003

History (PDF)
Academic Standards for History took effect upon their publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on January 11, 2003

Mathematics (PDF)
Academic Standards for Mathematics took effect upon their publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on January 16, 1999
On July 1, 2010, the State Board of Education adopted the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics, which will replace the Mathematics standards adopted in 1999 that are reflected in the above PDF document. The regulations providing for these new academic content standards took effect upon their publication in the October 16, 2010 edition of the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The transition to Common Core will begin during the 2010-11 school year, with full implementation required by July 1, 2013.  The Common Core State Standards in Mathematics are available online at: Common Core Standards - Math (PDF).

Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening (PDF)
Academic Standards for Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening took effect upon their publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on January 16, 1999
On July 1, 2010, the State Board of Education adopted the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts, which will replace the Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening standards adopted in 1999 that are reflected in the above PDF document. The regulations providing for these new academic content standards took effect upon their publication in the October 16, 2010 edition of the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The transition to Common Core will begin during the 2010-11 school year, with full implementation required by July 1, 2013.  The Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts are available online at: Common Core Standards - ELA (PDF).

Science and Technology (PDF)
Academic Standards for Science and Technology took effect upon their publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on January 5, 2002


Resources Related to State Academic Standards

Assessment Anchors and Eligible Content
In addition to the state academic standards, the Department of Education developed and the State Board adopted Assessment Anchors for each subject and grade level assessed by the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA). Assessment Anchors are a subset of the state academic standards. They define the academic content and skills that are assessed by the PSSA. Assessment Anchors and Eliglbe Content can be found online at: Assessment Anchors and Eligible Content.

Alternate Learning Standards
In addition, as required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, the Board adopted alternative learning standards for students with the most severe cognitive disabilities. They can be accessed online at: PA Alternate System of Assessment (PASA) Information.

ELL Proficiency Standards
Also as required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, the State Board adopted Language Proficiency Standards for English Language Learners. These can be found online at: Language Proficiency Standards for English Language Learners PreK-12.

Early Learning Standards
The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning also has issued its own Early Learning Standards in the following areas:


For additional information, please contact:

Stephanie Jones | Administrative Assistant
Pennsylvania Department of Education - State Board of Education
333 Market Street, 1st Fl | Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
Phone: 717.787.3787 | Fax: 717.787.7306 | TTY: 717.783.8445
ra-stateboardofed@pa.gov | www.education.state.pa.us