Mathematics Standards Review

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A strong mathematics education depends upon a clear understanding of its interrelated concepts, skills and practices to ensure students are on the pathway to success in their academic careers. The knowledge and skills students need to be prepared for mathematics in college, career, and life are woven throughout the K-12 mathematics standards.

The mathematics standards are broken into a variety of grade bands (i.e., K-2, 3-5, K-5, 6-8, High School) with standards grouped as clusters within domains. Although domain names change as the standards build through K-12, they can be organized by the following clusters:

  • Quantitative Reasoning: Counting and Cardinality (K), Number and Operations in Base Ten (K-5), Number and Operations Fractions (3-5), Ratio and Proportional Relations (6-8), The Number System (6-8), and Number and Quantity (High School).
  • Algebraic Reasoning: Operations and Algebraic Thinking (K-5), Expressions and Equations (6-8), Functions (8-HS), and Algebra (HS)
  • Geometric Reasoning: Geometry (K-12)
  • Statistical Reasoning: Measurement and Data (K-5), Statistics and Probability (6-HS)
  • Mathematical Practices (K-12): Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them;  Reason abstractly and quantitatively;  Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others; Model with mathematics; Use appropriate tools strategically; Attend to precision, Look for and make use of structure and look for; and Express regularity in repeated reasoning.

For Mathematics & Numeracy resources, check out the Maine State Numeracy Hub!

Standards Updates

Academic Standards

As part of the Maine Department of Education’s commitment to supporting schools in the delivery of effective PK-12 mathematics instructional programs, this page provides links to resources to support implementation of Maine’s mathematic academic standards. How schools implement these standards is entirely a local decision.

  • Maine Learning Results: Mathematics - The Mathematics standards in the Maine Learning Results have been updated and adopted as of July 18, 2020 and still continue to include the Common Core State Standards.
  • Maine's Early Learning and Development Standards -These guidelines direct State and local early care and education practitioners’ efforts to improve early childhood professional practice and programs for young children ages three through their entrance into kindergarten. The guidelines also consider the core elements contained in the Maine Learning Results.
  • Core Content Connectors (word document download). The Core Content Connectors [CCCs] are Maine’s alternate achievement standards in mathematics.  These standards are derived from the Common Core State Standards, reduced in complexity and deconstructed into smaller, more accessible steps for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.  The CCCs are the building blocks of Maine’s alternate assessment in mathematics, the MSAA.  For more information about alternate assessments based on alternate achievement standards (AA-AAS), please contact Jodi Bossio-Smith at: jodi.bossio-smith@maine.gov.
Assessment

Asking students to demonstrate development of mathematics knowledge and skills is essential in the learning process and indicates whether or not the goals of education are being met.  Assessment information affects decisions about grades, placement, advancement, instructional needs, and curriculum. 

Formative Assessment

Often called assessment for learning, formative assessment provides ongoing feedback between the teacher and student to improve teaching and learning.  Assessment for learning helps students identify their strengths, weaknesses, and target areas for further learning.  It also helps teachers recognize where students are struggling so they can address the problem immediately.

One example of diagnostic formative assessment for Pre-K to Grade 5 is the Early Mathematics Diagnostic Interview (EMDI) tool.  Through this assessment educators can identify strengths and challenges for students leading to appropriate interventions and supports.  The EMDI tool can be found here.

Accountability and State Assessment

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) & International Assessment