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    California 3rd Grade Curriculum & Standards Guide

    How California's third grade standards line up with Third Grade.

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    California standards

    Math

    California Common Core State Standards for Mathematics

    Common Core · adopted 2010

    California adopted the Common Core with a few California additions, none of them in Grade 3. Codes drop the cluster letter, for example 3.OA.8 where the national code is 3.OA.D.8.

    Official standards

    English Language Arts

    California Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy

    Common Core · adopted 2010

    California's edition of the Common Core marks a few California additions. In Grade 3 the added standards are handwriting in cursive or joined italics (L.3.1.j), reciprocal pronouns (L.3.1.k) and a planned informative talk (SL.3.4.a).

    Official standards

    Science

    California Science Standards

    National science standards · adopted 2013

    Adopted on September 4, 2013. Grade 3 uses the national science standards unchanged, with the same codes, for example 3-LS4-1.

    Official standards

    Social Studies

    History-Social Science Content Standards for California Public Schools

    State's own standards

    Adopted in October 1998. Grade 3 is 'Continuity and Change': local geography, local American Indian nations, local history, government and economics. Codes look like 3.4.5, meaning item 5 under Grade 3 standard 3.4.

    Official standards

    Standard-by-standard crosswalk

    See every national third grade standard matched to California's own codes.

    • Math: 37 same · 0 close · 0 partly · 0 not in Grade 3
    • English Language Arts: 88 same · 2 close · 0 partly · 0 not in Grade 3
    • Science: 18 same · 0 close · 0 partly · 0 not in Grade 3
    Open the California crosswalk

    Grade 3 differences

    1. In California

      ELA: children write legibly in cursive or joined italics, with margins and correct spacing (L.3.1.j, a California addition). State law has required cursive or joined italics instruction in Grades 1 to 6 since January 1, 2024. The program does not teach cursive.

      Suggested swap in Third Grade

      ELA Weeks 1-36 (weekly word study): add about 10 minutes of cursive or joined italics practice daily, including copying sentences.

    2. In California

      Social studies: children study the American Indian nations of their local region: their identities, customs, how they used the land, their economies and governments, including tribal constitutions, and their contact with newcomers (3.2, including 3.2.3).

      Suggested swap in Third Grade

      Social Studies Weeks 6 and 12 (Native peoples; Native nations across regions): focus on the American Indian nations of your local California region, and add how one nation governs itself today.

    3. In California

      Social studies: children describe how California, the other states and sovereign American Indian tribes take part in the federal system of government (3.4.5).

      Suggested swap in Third Grade

      Social Studies Week 20 (three branches): add how California and sovereign tribal nations fit into the federal system.

    4. In California

      Social studies: children learn the histories of local and national landmarks, symbols and key documents, and read about the lives of American heroes, with examples such as Benjamin Franklin, Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman (3.4.3, 3.4.6).

      Suggested swap in Third Grade

      Social Studies Week 21 (citizens' rights and responsibilities): add a landmark or symbol study and one or two short biographies of American heroes.

    5. In California

      Social studies: children study the history of their own local region, including the economies settlers set up and how these shape today's economy, with stress on private property and entrepreneurship (3.3.2).

      Suggested swap in Third Grade

      Social Studies Weeks 7-8 (explorers and settlers; how our community began): use your own California region. Find out what work the first settlers did there and which local businesses grew from it.

    6. In California

      ELA: children use reciprocal pronouns, such as 'each other' and 'one another', correctly (L.3.1.k, a California addition).

      Suggested swap in Third Grade

      ELA Week 13 (revise and edit): teach 'each other' and 'one another' and have your child check for them when editing.

    7. In California

      Social studies: children discuss how their work in school builds their own human capital, meaning skills and knowledge for the future (3.5.4).

      Suggested swap in Third Grade

      Social Studies Week 30 (earning, banks and budgets): talk about how the skills your child is learning now lead to future jobs and earnings.

    Grade 3 public-school test

    California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP)

    The Smarter Balanced English language arts and math tests are given in Grades 3-8 and 11. The California Science Test starts in Grade 5.

    About this test

    Shown for context. Homeschool testing rules are separate; see below.

    Homeschool rules (unofficial summary)

    Unofficial summary, not legal advice, and not endorsed by any state or agency; rules change, so check official sources and thirdgrade.com/states before acting.

    Ways to homeschool

    • Run a home-based private school and file a Private School Affidavit (PSA) with the California Department of Education (Education Code 33190 and 48222).
    • Enroll in a private school satellite program (PSP), a private school that enrolls home-taught students.
    • Use a private tutor who holds a valid California teaching credential for the grade taught (Education Code 48224).
    • Enroll in a public charter school or district independent study program that allows learning at home (that program's rules apply).

    Notice or filing

    A home-based private school files the PSA each year. The statutory filing period is October 1 to 15, but the online system is open from August 1 to June 30 so new schools and home schools can file when they start. A paper affidavit can be requested from CDE. CDE does not approve, license or inspect private schools, and filing is not a state finding that a child is exempt.

    Where to file

    California Department of Education, Educational Data Management Division, Private School Data Support

    1430 N Street, Suite 6308, Sacramento, CA 95814-5901

    Phone: 916-319-0317

    File online

    Email: privateschools@cde.ca.gov. A paper affidavit may be requested by phone or email. For other private school questions, CDE lists its Private Schools Office at 916-445-7331 (privateschoolpd@cde.ca.gov). Families in a PSP, charter or independent study program do not file their own PSA; the program handles its filings.

    Required subjects

    A private school must teach in English and offer 'the several branches of study required to be taught in the public schools' (EC 48222). For grades 1 to 6, EC 51210 lists: English (including reading, writing, spelling, handwriting, speaking and listening); mathematics; social sciences (including history, geography, economics and government, with California and US history); science; visual and performing arts (dance, music, theater and visual arts); health; and physical education.

    Instruction time

    No set number of days or hours for a home-based private school. CDE's Private Schools FAQ reads a full-time day school to mean 'enough hours per day and days per year to offer instruction in the several branches of study required to be taught in the public schools of the state to the same general degree of depth.' EC 51210 sets at least 200 minutes of physical education every 10 school days in the public-school course of study for grades 1 to 6; whether that minute rule applies to a home-based private school: Check with your state: California Department of Education, Private Schools Office (916-445-7331). A private tutor must teach at least 3 hours a day for 175 days a year (EC 48224).

    Testing or evaluation

    No state testing or evaluation is required for a home-based private school.

    Records to keep

    An attendance register showing every absence of a half day or more. Courses of study offered. Names and addresses of faculty and a record of each instructor's educational qualifications. Keep a copy of each PSA filed.

    Parent or teacher qualifications

    Instruction must be by 'persons capable of teaching' (EC 48222). No credential is required for a private school. A private tutor needs a valid California teaching credential for the grade taught.

    Recent changes

    EC 51210 was amended by AB 1821 (2024, effective January 1, 2025) to add Native American perspectives on Spanish colonization and the Gold Rush to social sciences, and now also names the causes and effects of climate change in science. These topics sit within the grades 1 to 6 span; a single Grade 3 year need not cover every listed topic. Compulsory school age is 6 to 18.

    Official sources

    Other sources

    Verified 2026-09-30

    This is an unofficial, high-level summary of selected state homeschooling requirements, prepared for general information only. It is not endorsed by, affiliated with, or reviewed by any state, government agency, school district, court or other organization named in it. It is provided "as is," without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including as to accuracy, completeness or fitness for a particular purpose. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws, regulations, agency guidance, forms, addresses, phone numbers and procedures change, sometimes without notice. This summary was accurate to the best of our knowledge as of the verification date shown for each state, and we do not undertake to update the printed edition. Relevant rules may also appear in other statutes, regulations, local policies or case law not covered here, and your situation (for example, a child with special needs, a move between states or districts, or enrollment in a scholarship, charter or umbrella program) may be governed by additional rules. Before acting, consult the official sources listed for your state and, where applicable, your local school district or county office. For advice about your own situation, consider consulting a qualified attorney licensed in your state. For updates, check thirdgrade.com/states.

    Sources

    Verified 2026-10-08