Academic content standards (also known as benchmarks or learning goals) define what students are expected to know or be able to do in specific subject areas and grade levels. Each state has its own set of standards, as do some school districts. There are also national standards for some subjects, including science.

There are two sets of closely related national goals for science learning: Benchmarks for Science Literacy, published by Project 2061 of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and National Science Education Standards, published by the National Research Council. These two sets of learning goals were developed by experts in science and education, and many states have based their standards on these national recommendations.

Interested in more? Check out these additional resources!

• AAAS national science standards
  http://www.project2061.org/tools/benchol/bolframe.htm
  Benchmarks for Science Literacy presents the K-12 science learning goals developed by Project 2061 of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
• NAS national science standards
  http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/nses/html/
  These are the national science learning goals developed by the National Research Council.
• National mathematics standards
  http://www.nctm.org/standards/
  Here's where you'll find the math standards prescribed by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
• K-12 educational standards database
  http://www.mcrel.org/standards-benchmarks/
  Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) provides a compilation of content standards for K-12 curriculum in both searchable and browsable formats.
• State educational standards site
  http://edstandards.org/StSu/Science.html#State
  This website lists science standards from a variety of sources, allowing you to look up learning goals in science by your state or by the organization that developed them.