Iowa Academic Standards

Iowa developed its own Academic Standards beginning in 2018, replacing previous adoptions of national frameworks. These standards define what Iowa students should know and be able to do at each grade level, from kindergarten through 12th grade. They are goals — not a curriculum — so local schools and districts retain full control over how they teach.

Iowa's Academic Standards cover the following subject areas:

• English Language Arts / Literacy — Reading, writing, speaking, listening and language
• Mathematics — Number sense, operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, data and statistics
• Science — Physical science, life science, Earth and space science, and engineering design (using Iowa's three-dimensional, integrated approach)
• Social Studies — Civics, economics, geography, history and financial literacy
• 21st Century Skills — Civic literacy, employability skills, financial literacy, health literacy and technology literacy

Standards are reviewed and updated on a regular cycle by the Iowa Department of Education, with input from Iowa educators, families and community members.

Family Guides

The Iowa Department of Education publishes Family Guides for each grade level to help families understand what their students will learn and how they can support learning at home. These guides cover English/Language Arts, Mathematics and Science.

• Kindergarten
• 1st Grade
• 2nd Grade
• 3rd Grade
• 4th Grade
• 5th Grade
• 6th Grade
• 7th Grade
• 8th Grade
• High School

Interactive Standards Viewer

Browse the full Iowa Academic Standards interactively at /standards.