Districts are required to put state standards into place so all students have access to high-quality content and instruction. Districts must develop local standards for subjects that do not have state standards. Resources are provided to help districts in this effort.

State standards are revised on a schedule approved by the Minnesota Legislature. You can follow the revision process for each subject area on this page. Please subscribe to this page to receive e-mail notices when new information is added.

Standards Revision: Social Studies
After a year-long review process, the proposed revision of the 2004 social studies is now complete. The Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies and a frequently asked questions document on the standards review process are available in the Social Studies section below. For information on the status of the Social Studies Academic Standards and the rulemaking process please visit the Social Studies Standards rulemaking page.

 

Arts

The interrelationship of artistic knowledge and processes defines artistic literacy. Engaging Students in the Arts can help educators bring arts into the classroom, allowing students to integrate arts with other subject areas.

The 2008 arts standards must be implemented by the 2010-2011 school year for districts who have adopted the state standards. The Perpich Center for Arts Education provides guidance on developing local arts standards.  Contact Jeff Pridie at 763-279-4179 or jeff.pridie@pcae.k12.mn.us.
 

• Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in the Arts (2008) 
  These standards were promulgated into rule effective 11/16/2009.

Health and Physical Education

The goal of Health Education and Physical Education programs in Minnesota is to offer students educational opportunities that promote healthy, lifelong lifestyle decisions. Working together, parents, schools, and the state of Minnesota are making a real difference in the health and well being of our students. Minnesota has adopted the National Standards for Physical Education, which were developed by the National Association for Sports and Physical Education. Every Minnesota school district is required to adopt these standards, beginning with the 2012-13 school year. Additionally, every school district must have locally developed standards in health education. Contact Mary Thissen-Milder, Coordinated School Health Specialist, at 651-582-8505.
 

• Frequently Asked Questions About the 2010 Healthy Kids Bill 
  In 2003 the Legislature required that all school districts adopt local standards for health and physical education. The 2010 law requires districts to adopt statewide physical education standards.
• National Physical Education Standards and Minnesota Benchmarks 
  This resource identifies sample grade-specific benchmarks for grades K-12 in physical education that districts may want to consult as a guide.
• National Health Education Standards and Minnesota Benchmarks 
  This resource identifies sample grade-specific benchmarks for grades K-12 in health education that districts may want to consult as a guide for locally developed standards.

Language Arts

The study of Language Arts teaches students how to effectively communicate and to use related knowledge and contexts to synthesize information into meaningful messages. The 2010 Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in English Language Arts use the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science and Technical Subjects as a base. Additional standards were added to address state statutory requirements and best practices. Appendices to the standards and guidelines for how to apply the standards for English Language Learners and students with disabilities are available on the Common Core website.

Districts are required to implement the 2010 standards no later than the 2012-2013 school year. Contact Charon Tierney, state English Language Arts Specialist, at 651-582-8643.
 

• Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in English Language Arts (2010) 
  New standards; must be implemented by schools no later than the 2012-13 school year. Minnesota additions to the Common Core Standards are noted in boldface type.

Mathematics

The Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Mathematics are grounded in the belief that all students can and should be mathematically proficient. All students should learn important mathematical concepts, skills, and relationships with understanding. The standards describe a connected body of mathematical knowledge students learn through the processes of problem solving, reasoning and proof, communication, connections, and representation. The standards are grouped by strands: 1) Number and Operation; 2) Algebra; 3) Geometry and Measurement; 4) Data Analysis and Probability. The 2010 English Language Arts standards include literacy in technical subjects, including mathematics. Contact Sue Wygant, State Mathematics Specialist, at 651-582-8581.
 

• Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Mathematics (2003) 
  Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Mathematics in table format (2003 version)
• Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Mathematics (2003) 
  Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Mathematics in narrative format (2003 version)
• Frequently Asked Questions about the 2007 Minnesota Mathematics Standards and Benchmarks for Grades K-12 
  Answers questions about the final draft of the mathematics standards revision document. (April 13, 2007)
• Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Mathematics (2007) 
  Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Mathematics (2007 version). Adopted September 22, 2008.

Science

Science is the active study of nature, its structures and its processes. Science students use their senses and tools to observe, record and analyze data about the natural world. Scientifically literate young people can understand phenomena, solve problems and produce new technologies for the world today.  The 2010 Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in English Language Arts (ELA) standards include requirements for literacy in history/social studies, science and technical subjects as well as ELA.

The 2009 Revision of the Minnesota Academic Standards in Science was put into rule effective May 24, 2010. Districts must implement the 2009 Science standards by the 2011-2012 school year. Contact John Olson, State Science Specialist at 651-582-8673.
 

• Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Science (2009) 
  Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in science were put into rule effective May 24, 2010.
• Academic Standards: Science K-12 (2009) - Spreadsheet 
  This spreadsheet allows for sorting of the standards and for adding columns for instructional resources and assessments.

Social Studies

Social Studies is the multidisciplinary study of the humanities and the social sciences to prepare young people to become responsible, engaged citizens through disciplinary knowledge, disciplinary skills, commitment to democratic values and citizen participation. In Minnesota, state standards that define social studies knowledge and skills are found in the social studies standards and the English language arts standards. The Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies define the knowledge and skills that students must achieve in civics and government, economics, geography and history. The Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in English Language Arts (ELA) define the requirements for literacy in history and social studies.

The state social studies standards committee has completed its review and revision of the 2004 state social studies standards. The proposed 2011 standards are the result of an intensive year-long process that involved the committee’s study of national documents and reports on social studies education, examination of exemplary standards from other states, analysis of hundreds of comments submitted by the public, and an unprecedented number of expert reviews. The new standards are anchored in college- and career-readiness skills and feature grade-specific benchmarks in grades K-8 and a single band of benchmarks in grades 9-12.

The committee’s final draft is now proceeding through the state’s formal administrative rulemaking process. If adopted into rule, districts must implement the revised (2011) standards no later than the 2013-2014 school year. Until that time, the 2004 standards remain in effect. Read the 2011 Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for more information about the new standards. Direct questions to Kate Stower at 651-582-8254 or kathryn.stower@mnhs.org.
 

• Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies 2011 
  Draft for rulemaking 2.17.12
• Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies (2004) 
  Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in social studies in table format (2004 version)
• Social Studies Standards and Benchmarks 2011 
  Table format to be used by districts for alignment of curriculum and/or assessment
• Frequently Asked Questions: 2011 Social Studies Standards 
  

World Languages

Study in world languages offers students the opportunity to communicate with people of other cultures and backgrounds. Language learning challenges students and introduces them to a larger world view. Most colleges require two or three years of study in a foreign language.

There are no state standards in world languages. Districts must develop local standards. Minnesota World Languages: A Model for Use in Setting Local Standards is based on national standards and is provided to help districts. Contact Leigh Schleicher at 651-582-8326.
 

• World Languages Standards: A Model for Use in Setting Local Standards 
  This document can be used by districts as they develop local world language standards.