NTES National Curriculum Framework Library
Explore the decentralised U.S. education landscape, where states establish academic standards and accountability requirements while districts and schools make substantial curriculum and instructional decisions.
This NTES reference page separates federal, state and local responsibilities and examines Common Core where adopted, NGSS where adopted, and state examples from California, New York and Texas.
Federal National Curriculum
None
State Systems
50 States
Standards Authority
Primarily State Level
Curriculum Delivery
State + District + School
Critical governance distinction
States establish academic standards and major education requirements, while local districts and schools commonly develop curricula and instructional programmes. Common Core and NGSS should therefore be described as standards frameworks used only where jurisdictions have adopted or adapted them.
Education governance
Understanding U.S. curriculum requires separating these three levels of responsibility.
Limited Curriculum Role
The federal government supports education through legislation, funding, research, civil-rights protections and national data, but it does not establish a single national K–12 curriculum or determine state academic standards.
Federal education legislation
Funding programmes
Civil-rights protections
Education research
National education data
No federal national curriculum
Primary Standards Authority
States establish academic standards, education requirements, assessment systems and many graduation expectations through state education agencies, legislatures and state boards of education.
State academic standards
State assessment systems
Graduation requirements
Teacher and school regulations
Accountability structures
Curriculum frameworks in some states
Curriculum Implementation
Local education agencies and school districts commonly translate state standards into curricula, courses, instructional materials, pacing, teaching programmes and local graduation requirements.
Local curriculum
Course design
Instructional materials
Scope & sequence
Teacher implementation
Additional local requirements
State academic standards
The United States contains 50 state education systems, each with its own standards, policies and implementation arrangements.
Curriculum can also vary within a state because local districts often make instructional and curriculum decisions within state requirements.
Academic standards describe what learners should know and be able to do; curriculum defines how schools organise learning to achieve those expectations.
States operate their own assessment systems aligned with applicable state standards and federal accountability requirements.
High-school diploma requirements differ substantially between states and can be supplemented by local district requirements.
States may use independently developed standards, Common Core-derived standards, NGSS-based science standards or other state-specific frameworks.
Essential distinction
State standards describe expected student knowledge, understanding and skills.
Some states publish curriculum frameworks providing guidance for implementing standards.
Districts and schools commonly develop the detailed sequence of courses, units and learning experiences.
Teachers make pedagogical decisions about how learning is taught within applicable standards and curriculum requirements.
Common Core State Standards
Common Core should never be labelled the United States national curriculum.
The Common Core State Standards are academic standards and should not be presented as a federal national curriculum.
Common Core includes learning standards for English language arts and literacy.
Common Core also establishes mathematics standards organised across grade levels and high-school mathematics.
States decide whether to adopt, adapt, replace or maintain standards influenced by Common Core.
Even where Common Core-based standards are used, curriculum and classroom implementation can remain locally determined.
States have revised standards over time, so current state documents should always be checked rather than assuming original Common Core adoption remains unchanged.
Next Generation Science Standards
The Next Generation Science Standards were developed through a state-led process rather than as federal science standards.
NGSS integrates scientific and engineering practices into expectations for student learning.
The framework organises important science knowledge through disciplinary core ideas.
Crosscutting concepts help learners recognise ideas and patterns that connect different scientific disciplines.
States determine whether they adopt NGSS, adapt NGSS-related standards or maintain independently developed science standards.
Science curriculum, instructional materials and assessments therefore vary across participating jurisdictions.
Selected state examples
These three states demonstrate why one generic “American curriculum” description would be misleading.
State Standards + Curriculum Frameworks
California establishes state content standards across multiple subjects and provides curriculum frameworks to support implementation.
California Content StandardsCalifornia maintains state content standards across multiple subject areas including English, mathematics, science, history-social science, computer science, arts and world languages.
California uses state-adopted Common Core standards in English language arts and mathematics.
California's science standards are based on the Next Generation Science Standards framework.
California publishes curriculum frameworks that provide guidance for implementing State Board of Education-adopted content standards.
Local educational agencies translate state standards and frameworks into courses, teaching programmes and instructional practice.
California operates the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress as its statewide assessment system.
California graduation
California law establishes minimum high-school course requirements for students receiving a public high-school diploma.
Local educational agencies can establish graduation requirements beyond the state minimum.
The state minimum currently includes three years of English.
The state minimum includes mathematics requirements, including Algebra I or the applicable equivalent requirement.
State minimums also include science and social-science course requirements.
Students and schools should verify the graduation policy of the relevant district because district requirements can exceed state minimums.
State Standards + Local Curriculum
New York provides a particularly clear example of the distinction between state standards and locally developed curriculum.
New York Learning StandardsNew York State establishes P–12 learning standards across multiple curriculum areas describing what learners should know and be able to do.
New York explicitly distinguishes standards from curriculum: local school boards and districts develop curricula based on state learning standards.
New York has adopted Next Generation learning standards in areas including English language arts and mathematics.
New York also maintains K–12 Computer Science and Digital Fluency learning standards.
Statewide Regents examinations continue to play an important role in secondary assessment and diploma pathways.
Districts select instructional materials, develop pacing and scope-and-sequence arrangements and provide local curriculum implementation.
New York graduation
Current New York diploma pathways require 22 credits across prescribed subject areas.
Students can work toward a Regents diploma through required credits and applicable assessment requirements.
New York also offers a Regents diploma with advanced designation for students meeting additional requirements.
Eligible students may access a local diploma pathway under applicable state rules.
Assessment requirements include pathway options in addition to core subject assessment requirements.
Districts may establish diploma requirements beyond state requirements.
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills
Texas establishes statewide academic standards through the TEKS and provides an important contrast with states using Common Core-derived standards.
Texas Essential Knowledge and SkillsTexas uses the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, or TEKS, as its statewide public-school academic standards.
The State Board of Education has authority to adopt TEKS for subjects in the required curriculum.
Texas provides an important example of a state maintaining its own detailed standards architecture rather than using Common Core as its statewide standard system.
TEKS cover areas including English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, technology applications, fine arts and career and technical education.
TEKS are periodically reviewed and revised, with implementation dates established for updated standards.
Districts and schools organise instructional programmes that ensure students are taught the required TEKS.
Texas graduation
The Foundation High School Program is the default state graduation programme for students entering high school under current requirements.
Texas graduation plans currently in use require combinations of 22 to 26 course credits depending on the applicable programme.
The Foundation programme includes optional or applicable endorsements that allow specialised areas of study.
State testing requirements include specified end-of-course assessments under current Texas rules.
Current state graduation requirements include completion of a financial-aid application process or an applicable opt-out.
Students follow the graduation requirements applicable to the cohort in which they entered high school.
Assessment & accountability
States operate standards-aligned assessment systems to measure student achievement and support accountability requirements.
Assessment names, test designs, subjects and graduation implications differ by state.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress provides nationally representative information but is distinct from state standards-based testing.
California operates CAASPP as its statewide student assessment system.
New York combines elementary/intermediate state testing with high-school Regents examinations.
Texas uses its own state assessment arrangements, including applicable end-of-course assessments.
Accountability lens
Federal law establishes important accountability, reporting and civil-rights requirements while leaving standards and curriculum authority principally with states and local systems.
States establish accountability systems, indicators and school-performance frameworks within applicable federal requirements.
Districts and schools use state and local evidence to plan interventions, curriculum improvements and professional development.
Performance data should always be interpreted against the relevant state's standards, assessment system and student population.
State comparison
| State | Standards | Curriculum | Assessment | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | California Content Standards including California Common Core and CA NGSS | State frameworks + local educational agency implementation | CAASPP and other California assessment programmes | State minimum courses + local district requirements |
| New York | NYS P–12 Learning Standards / Next Generation standards | Locally determined by school boards and districts | Grades 3–8 state assessments + Regents examinations | 22 credits + applicable diploma assessment requirements |
| Texas | Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills | District implementation of required statewide standards | Texas state assessments and applicable end-of-course testing | Foundation High School Program and applicable cohort requirements |
School implementation
Always identify the state before discussing U.S. curriculum requirements because standards and graduation rules vary by jurisdiction.
Schools should distinguish state learning standards from district curriculum, textbooks, instructional programmes and teacher pedagogy.
Do not assume a state currently uses Common Core or NGSS simply because it adopted related standards historically.
Standards are periodically revised, so curriculum teams should use current state department or state board publications.
District curricula should demonstrate clear alignment with applicable state standards and course requirements.
School assessment programmes should reflect state standards, statewide testing expectations and local learning goals.
High schools need reliable systems for monitoring credits, state requirements, local requirements and assessment obligations.
Students moving between states may encounter different standards, course sequences, credit systems and diploma requirements.
Future state expansion
California, New York and Texas establish the first comparison layer. Additional states can be added progressively using current official state education sources.
B.E.S.T. standards, state assessment and graduation requirements.
Massachusetts curriculum frameworks, MCAS and graduation context.
Standards of Learning, state assessment and diploma requirements.
Illinois Learning Standards, assessment and graduation requirements.
Washington State learning standards and graduation pathways.
Colorado Academic Standards and district implementation.
Standard Course of Study, assessment and graduation expectations.
Georgia Standards of Excellence and high-school requirements.
Pennsylvania academic standards, assessment and local curriculum.
Official U.S. resources
State standards, assessments and graduation requirements change over time. Formal curriculum decisions should therefore use the current state education agency, state board and applicable district requirements.
Official explanation of the federal role and why curriculum and standards are primarily state and local responsibilities.
Explore Federal RoleOfficial U.S. Department of Education explanation confirming that the Department does not develop curricula or determine state academic standards.
Explore Federal LimitsOfficial California Department of Education portal for current state academic content standards.
Explore California StandardsOfficial curriculum frameworks providing guidance for implementing California State Board-adopted standards.
Explore California FrameworksOfficial NYSED directory of state learning standards across curriculum areas.
Explore New York StandardsOfficial NYSED information covering diploma credits, assessment requirements and diploma pathways.
Explore NY GraduationOfficial Texas Education Agency portal for statewide TEKS curriculum standards.
Explore Texas TEKSOfficial Texas Education Agency information on current high-school graduation programmes and requirements.
Explore Texas GraduationOfficial NGSS resource describing the state-led development and implementation of Next Generation Science Standards.
Explore NGSSStandards, curriculum, assessment and diploma requirements vary substantially between states and can also vary between districts. Professional comparison should therefore identify the relevant state and, where necessary, the local education agency.
NT Education Solutions is an independent education provider and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or any state or local education authority.
International comparison
Curriculum Comparison
Compare U.S. state and district responsibility with Canada's provincial and territorial curriculum authority.
Explore CanadaCurriculum Comparison
Compare the U.S. state-led model with Germany's Länder curricula and KMK educational standards.
Explore GermanyCurriculum Comparison
Compare the U.S. decentralised system with Australia's national curriculum plus state and territory implementation.
Explore AustraliaDecentralised curriculum benchmarking
The United States provides a valuable international comparison for standards-based education, local curriculum autonomy, state accountability, student mobility and diverse graduation pathways.