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 available online on the Pennsylvania Code Web Site.
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
Pennsylvania Core Standards - English Language Arts (PDF)
Pennsylvania Core Standards for English Language Arts took effect upon their publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on March 1, 2014
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
Environment and Ecology (PDF)
Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology took effect upon their publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on January 5, 2002 and will be sunset on June 30, 2025
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
Pennsylvania Core Standards for Reading in History and Social Studies & Pennsylvania Core Standards for Writing in History and Social Studies (PDF)
Pennsylvania Core Standards for Reading and Writing in History and Social Studies, a supplement to the academic standards for History, took effect upon their publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on March 1, 2014
Pennsylvania Core Standards - Mathematics (PDF)
Pennsylvania Core Standards for Mathematics took effect upon their publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on March 1, 2014
Science and Technology (PDF)
Academic Standards for Science and Technology took effect upon their publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on January 5, 2002 and will be sunset on June 30, 2025
Pennsylvania Integrated Standards for Science, Environment, Ecology, Technology, and Engineering (Grades K-5) (PDF)
The Pennsylvania Integrated Standards for Science, Environment, Ecology, Technology, and Engineering (Grades K-5) were published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on July 16, 2022, and take effect on July 1, 2025
Pennsylvania Integrated Standards for Science, Environment, and Ecology (Grades 6-12) (PDF)
These Pennsylvania Integrated Standards for Science, Environment, and Ecology (Grades 6-12) were published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on July 16, 2022, and take effect on July 1, 2025
Pennsylvania Technology and Engineering Standards (Grades 6-12) (PDF)
These Pennsylvania Technology and Engineering Standards (Grades 6-12) were published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on July 16, 2022, and take effect on July 1, 2025
Pennsylvania Core Standards for Reading in Science and Technology & Pennsylvania Core Standards for Writing in Science and Technology (PDF)
Pennsylvania Core Standards for Reading and Writing in Science and Technology, a supplement to the academic standards for Science and Technology, took effect upon their publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on March 1, 2014.
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 Eligible Content can be found online at: Assessment Anchors and Eligible Content.
Alternate Eligible Content
The Bureau of Special Education, in collaboration with stakeholder groups that include parents, educators , higher education staff, administrators, PSSA committee members , and outside content experts developed, reviewed , and finalized alternate eligible content (Grades 3-8 and 11) utilizing the PSSA assessment anchors and eligible content as the framework as required by the United States Department of Education (USDE). The Alternate Eligible Content process and information was reviewed by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education as part of the federal requirement on November 18, 2015. Subsequently, the State Board approved the adoption of Alternate Eligible Content for Reading and Math on November 19, 2015. The Alternate Eligible Content for Science and Writing were approved on May 11, 2017. They can be accessed online at: PA Alternate System of Assessment (PASA) Information.
Early Learning Standards
The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning also has issued its own Early Learning Standards in the following areas:
- Infant-Toddler (PDF)
- Pre-Kindergarten (PDF)
- Kindergarten (PDF)
- First Grade (PDF)
- Second Grade (PDF)