Math & reading standards and testing in Vermont
Updated June 2026
Vermont adopted the Common Core State Standards for ELA and math. Students in grades 3-9 take the Smarter Balanced assessments each spring.
Does Vermont hold kids back in 3rd grade for reading?
No. Vermont has no 3rd-grade retention gate; promotion is local.
Standards
Common Core State Standards
Aligned to the Common Core State Standards, so grade-level skills match what most of the country teaches.
The key test
The Vermont state test
Smarter Balanced covers both math and reading in grades 3-9.
Reading the results
Spring.
Levels 1 to 4; Levels 3 to 4 are proficient.
On grade level means Level 3 or above on the state ELA assessment.
What's distinctive about Vermont
Vermont is moving from Smarter Balanced to its own Vermont Comprehensive Assessment while keeping a four-level scale.
Practice the skills, by grade
Whatever Vermont calls its test, the underlying math and reading skills are grade-level. Practice them directly:
Practice the skills behind the test
Vermont teaches the Common Core standards. What a third grader has to do does not change: multiply, find the main idea, read a paragraph and say what it meant. KangarooKiddo drills those skills in daily sessions of a handful of questions that end on their own. You see where your kid actually stands, they earn rewards you set up and approve.
Source: Vermont Department of Education. Verified for the 2025-26 school year; policies can change, so confirm with your school.
Nearby states: Connecticut · Maine · Massachusetts · New Hampshire
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