Standards: 9-12

Core Learning Goals

Maryland students must pass four high school assessments to receive their high school diploma: English, Government, Algebra/Data Analysis, and Biology. They take these assessments after they complete the related course. The Core Learning Goals for these four courses define what students need to know and be able to do on each assessment.

English
Government
Algebra/Data Analysis
Biology

In addition, Core Learning Goals were drafted for other courses which are not tested on the High School Assessments. These Core Learning Goals identify what students should know and be able to do after completing these courses.

Geometry
Physics
Earth/Space Science
Chemistry
Environmental Science

Voluntary State Curriculum (VSC)

The Voluntary State Curriculum is currently being drafted for high school and will define what students should know and be able to do in the core content areas as well as elective subjects. VSC has been drafted for the following subjects:

At the high school level, the VSC documents integrate the format from the Pre-K - 8 VSC with the language from the Core Learning Goals. The Pre-K - 8 VSC format begins with content standards or broad, measurable statements about what students should know and be able to do. Indicator statements provide the next level of specificity and begin to narrow the focus for teachers. Finally, the objectives provide teachers with very clear information about what specific learning should occur. The High School VSC meshes the standards, indicators and objectives from the VSC documents with the core learning goals, expectations, and indicators from the Core Learning Goal documents. In the assessed content areas, the VSC document aligns the Maryland Content Standards and the Maryland Assessment Program or the High School Assessments.