Massachusetts Curriculum Standards

What Are the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks?

The Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks are the official curriculum standards adopted by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) that define exactly what every Massachusetts public school student must learn at each grade level and in each subject. Every Massachusetts MCAS exam is built directly from these standards.

Quick Definition

The Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks are the master list of every topic, skill, and standard a Massachusetts student is required to learn. Schools build their curriculum from them, and the MCAS is built from them. If a topic is in the standards, it can be tested. If it's not, it won't be.

Why the Standards Matter for the MCAS

A MCAS exam isn't built from a generic textbook or national curriculum — it's built straight from the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for that specific course. That means:

  • Standards-aligned practice = directly relevant practice. Every question and concept is mapped to the standards the exam actually samples.
  • Off-standard material is wasted study time. A general Algebra 1 review course might cover topics the MCAS never tests, while skipping standards that show up every year.
  • The standards are the diagnostic. If you score low on a specific standard in practice, that's exactly where to focus. MCAS Practice™ tags every question by topic so weak points surface immediately.

How the Standards Are Organized

The Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks are organized by subject and grade band. In high school, the MCAS tests three areas — English Language Arts; Mathematics (covering algebra, geometry, and data & statistics); and Science & Technology/Engineering, offered as Biology, Introductory Physics, Chemistry, or Technology/Engineering. Each test's standards spell out the concepts and skills a student must master to score well on that MCAS exam.

MCAS Practice™ practice questions are organized by these topics so you can drill a specific area — or see exactly which one cost you points on a mock exam.

Who Sets the Standards?

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), with adoption by the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and input from teachers, content experts, and public comment. The current Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for mathematics and English Language Arts were last revised in 2017, building on and revising the earlier Common Core-based standards.

Standards for Each MCAS Subject

Each subject page lists the topics that get sampled on the MCAS.

Algebra 1 Standards
All topics + practice
Geometry Standards
All topics + practice
Algebra 2 Standards
All topics + practice
Biology Standards
All topics + practice
Chemistry Standards
All topics + practice

Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks FAQ

What are the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks?
They are the official curriculum standards adopted by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Massachusetts DESE) that specify what every Massachusetts public-school student must learn at each grade level and in each subject.
What are the Learning Standards in simple terms?
They are the master list of every topic, skill, and standard a Massachusetts student is required to learn. Schools build their curriculum from them, and every Massachusetts MCAS exam is built directly from them for that course. If something is in the standards, it can be tested. If it's not, it won't be.
What score do I need on a MCAS exam?
MCAS reports four performance levels: Not Meeting, Partially Meeting, Meeting, and Exceeding Expectations. Meeting Expectations or higher is the proficiency bar. Students among the top scorers on the grade-10 ELA and Math tests can qualify for the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship, which covers tuition at Massachusetts state colleges and universities.
Are the Massachusetts standards the same as Common Core?
Not exactly. Massachusetts adopted Common Core in 2010, then revised and expanded it into the 2017 Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for mathematics and English Language Arts. The MCAS is built from these Massachusetts-specific frameworks, not from Common Core directly.
Where do I find the official standards?
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Massachusetts DESE) publishes the current Learning Standards for every subject on its official website, along with the revision and adoption history.
Why do the standards matter for the MCAS exam?
Because the MCAS is built from the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks — not from a textbook, not from an AP outline. Standards-aligned practice hits exactly what the exam tests. Generic curriculum review may cover material the MCAS never asks about while missing standards that appear on every exam.

Standards-aligned MCAS Prep — Free Samples

Every practice question organized by topic. Diagnose weak areas before exam day.

Browse MCAS Subjects

Related Guides

MCAS Exam Guides
Format, passing score, scheduling, and how to prepare.
Browse MCAS Subjects
Practice by subject with topic-tagged questions.