Missouri Learning Standards (MLS)

Missouri, United States

The Missouri Learning Standards define the knowledge and skills students need in each grade level and course for success in college, other post-secondary training, and careers. These expectations are aligned to the 'Show-Me Standards' and provide a roadmap for learning expectations without dictating a specific curriculum.

Missouri Learning Standards

The Missouri Learning Standards define the knowledge and skills students need in each grade level and course for success in college, other post-secondary training, and careers. These expectations are aligned to the 'Show-Me Standards' and provide a roadmap for learning expectations without dictating a specific curriculum.

Governing Body: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)

Year Adopted: 2016 (ELA, Math, Science), 2017 (Social Studies)

Grade Levels Covered

Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, High School (9-12)

English Language Arts

Kindergarten

K.RF.1.A Reading Foundations

Understand how English is written and read.

Key skills: Identify parts of a book, Track print left to right, Recognize uppercase and lowercase letters
K.R.1.A.a Reading - Comprehension

Predict what might happen next in a text based on the cover, title, and illustrations.

Key skills: Predicting, Using visual cues, Story anticipation

Grade 3

3.R.1.A.b Reading - Comprehension

Draw conclusions and support with textual evidence.

Key skills: Inferencing, Citing evidence, Critical thinking
3.L.1.A.a Language

In speech and written form, apply standard English grammar to use regular and irregular verbs and simple verb tenses.

Key skills: Verb usage, Tense consistency, Grammar application

High School (9-12)

9-10.RL.1.A Reading - Literature

Draw conclusions, infer and analyze by citing relevant and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

Key skills: Advanced analysis, Evidence-based argumentation, Literary interpretation

Mathematics

Kindergarten

K.NS.A.1 Number Sense

Count to 100 by ones and tens.

Key skills: Rote counting, Skip counting by 10s, Sequence recognition
K.GM.A.1 Geometry and Measurement

Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes and describe the relative positions of these objects.

Key skills: Shape identification, Spatial reasoning, Positional vocabulary

Grade 3

3.RA.A.1 Relationships and Algebraic Thinking

Interpret products of whole numbers.

Key skills: Multiplication concepts, Equal groups, Array modeling
3.NF.A.1 Number Sense and Operations in Fractions

Understand a unit fraction as the quantity formed by one part when a whole is partitioned into equal parts.

Key skills: Fractional parts, Unit fractions, Partitioning

High School (9-12)

A1.IF.A.1 Interpreting Functions (Algebra I)

Understand that a function from one set (called the domain) to another set (called the range) assigns to each element of the domain exactly one element of the range.

Key skills: Function definition, Domain and range, Mapping

Science

Kindergarten

K.PS1.A.1 Physical Sciences

Make qualitative observations of the physical properties of objects (i.e., size, shape, color, mass).

Key skills: Observation, Classification, Property description
K.LS1.C.1 Life Sciences

Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive.

Key skills: Survival needs, Biological patterns, Data collection

Grade 3

3.PS1.A.1 Physical Sciences

Predict and investigate that water can change from a liquid to a solid, and back again, or from a liquid to a gas, and back again as the result of temperature changes.

Key skills: States of matter, Phase changes, Experimental prediction
3.LS3.A.1 Life Sciences

Construct scientific arguments to support claims that some characteristics of organisms are inherited from parents and some are influenced by the environment.

Key skills: Inheritance, Environmental influence, Scientific argumentation

High School (9-12)

9-12.PS2.A.1 Physical Sciences (Physics)

Analyze data to support the claim that Newton’s second law of motion describes the mathematical relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and its acceleration.

Key skills: F=ma, Data analysis, Newtonian mechanics

Social Studies

Kindergarten

K.PC.1.F.a Principles of Constitutional Democracy

Identify the flag as a symbol of our nation.

Key skills: Symbol recognition, National identity, Civic awareness
K.H.3.B.a History

Create a personal history.

Key skills: Chronological thinking, Autobiographical narrative, Passage of time

Grade 3

3.GS.2.A Governance Systems

Explain the purposes and roles of government.

Key skills: Civics, Governmental roles, Community structure
3.EG.5.B.1 Geography

Name and locate major cities, rivers, regions, and states which border Missouri.

Key skills: Map reading, Missouri geography, Regional identification

High School (9-12)

9-12.GV.1.A Government

Analyze the principles and ideals that shaped the United States government, including individual rights, popular sovereignty, and the rule of law.

Key skills: Constitutional analysis, Democratic principles, Political theory

Implementation Notes

Missouri is a 'local control' state, meaning that while the MLS define the expectations for what students should know, local school districts and homeschool educators are responsible for developing their own curriculum, selecting textbooks, and determining instructional methods. The standards are designed to be rigorous and focused on college and career readiness.

Assessment

Student progress is measured via the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP). This includes Grade-Level Assessments for Grades 3-8 in ELA and Math, and Grades 5 and 8 in Science. High school students take End-of-Course (EOC) assessments in Algebra I, Biology, English II, and Government as graduation requirements.

About This Standard
Added:
January 13, 2026

This standard was generated using AI with grounded search to find official, accurate information. While we strive for accuracy, please verify important details with official sources.

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