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    Pennsylvania 3rd Grade Curriculum & Standards Guide

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

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    Pennsylvania standards

    Math

    Pennsylvania Core Standards for Mathematics

    Based on Common Core · adopted 2014

    Took effect March 1, 2014, as Pennsylvania's version of Common Core, written as 14 broad Grade 3 standards (codes like CC.2.4.3.A.1), so details such as rounding and fraction denominators are not spelled out. Grade 3 adds making change with coins and bills (CC.2.4.3.A.3) and temperature (CC.2.4.3.A.1), and its data standard also names tally charts and tables (CC.2.4.3.A.4).

    Official standards

    English Language Arts

    Pennsylvania Core Standards for English Language Arts

    Based on Common Core · adopted 2014

    Took effect March 1, 2014, as Pennsylvania's version of the Common Core ELA standards, with 56 Grade 3 standards (codes like CC.1.2.3.A). Most content lines up with what Third Grade teaches, but there is no separate Language strand: grammar, capitalization, punctuation and spelling are one general standard (CC.1.4.3.F). Grade 3 also asks for inferences (CC.1.2.3.B, CC.1.3.3.B).

    Official standards

    Science

    Pennsylvania Integrated Standards for Science, Environment, Ecology, Technology, and Engineering (K-5), part of STEELS

    Based on the national science framework · adopted 2022

    The STEELS standards (adopted 2022, in effect since July 1, 2025) give Grade 3 15 science standards (3.1.3.A to 3.3.3.C) that match the national science standards. Instead of the national engineering design standards, Pennsylvania has Grades 3-5 standards for Environmental Literacy and Sustainability (3.4.3-5.A to G) and Technology and Engineering (3.5.3-5.A to HH).

    Official standards

    Social Studies

    Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Civics and Government, Economics, Geography, and History

    State's own standards

    Civics, geography and history standards (2002-2003) are written for Grade 3 (codes like 5.1.3.D) and name Pennsylvania figures, documents, sites and symbols; they also include world history and international relationships. New Grades 3-5 Economics standards took effect July 1, 2026, as did separate Personal Finance standards (codes beginning 17.) that cover budgets, saving, earning and giving.

    Official standards

    Standard-by-standard crosswalk

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

    • Math: 2 same · 35 close · 0 partly · 0 not in Grade 3
    • English Language Arts: 24 same · 63 close · 2 partly · 1 not in Grade 3
    • Science: 12 same · 3 close · 3 partly · 0 not in Grade 3
    Open the Pennsylvania crosswalk

    Grade 3 differences

    1. In Pennsylvania

      Math: solve problems and make change with a combination of coins and bills (CC.2.4.3.A.3), and measure and estimate temperature along with liquid volume, mass and length (CC.2.4.3.A.1). Common Core places money in Grade 2.

      Suggested swap in Third Grade

      Math Week 32 (flex week): play store and make change from $5 and $10 with real coins and bills. Math Week 26 (mass and liquid volume): add reading a thermometer and estimating temperatures; pair with Science Week 19 (weather tools).

    2. In Pennsylvania

      Social studies: Pennsylvania people such as William Penn and Benjamin Franklin, primary documents and sites such as Penn's Charter, Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell (8.2.3.A to D), the document that created Pennsylvania (5.1.3.D), and state symbols and holidays such as Charter Day (5.1.3.K).

      Suggested swap in Third Grade

      Social Studies Week 17 (state project): choose Pennsylvania and include William Penn, Benjamin Franklin, the Liberty Bell and state symbols. Week 20 (three branches): add Penn's Charter (1681) as the document that created Pennsylvania and mark Charter Day.

    3. In Pennsylvania

      Social studies: United States founding documents, symbols and leaders: identify the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights (5.1.3.E), explain the purpose of the flag, the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem (5.1.3.G), and tell what Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and other leaders contributed (8.3.3.A).

      Suggested swap in Third Grade

      Social Studies Week 20 (three branches): add a day on the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Week 21 (citizens' rights and responsibilities): talk about what the flag, the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem stand for, and read short biographies of Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln.

    4. In Pennsylvania

      Social studies: world history is part of Grade 3: people, sites and artifacts from Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe, such as the pyramids and the Acropolis, and comparing the earliest civilizations with life today (8.4.3.A to D). Third Grade does not teach these.

      Suggested swap in Third Grade

      Social Studies Week 23 or 32 (flex weeks): spend three or four days on one early civilization from each of two continents, with a famous site for each, and compare daily life then and now.

    5. In Pennsylvania

      Social studies: international relationships: the world is divided into political units, countries interact with the United States, and nations make treaties and work together to solve problems (5.4.3.A to E).

      Suggested swap in Third Grade

      Social Studies Week 13 (movement and trade): add a world political map and name countries the United States trades with. Week 28 (interdependence): add one example of a treaty or of nations working together on a problem.

    6. In Pennsylvania

      Social studies: locate Pennsylvania and its neighbors (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, West Virginia) on a map (7.1.3.B).

      Suggested swap in Third Grade

      Social Studies Week 10 (U.S. geography): label Pennsylvania and its six neighboring states on a blank map.

    7. In Pennsylvania

      Science (Grades 3-5 band): environmental literacy, such as how people depend on and change the environment (3.4.3-5.F) and whether action is needed on a local environmental issue (3.4.3-5.E).

      Suggested swap in Third Grade

      Science Week 16 (local ecosystem study) or Social Studies Weeks 33-34 (civic action): pick a local environmental issue, decide whether action is needed and propose a solution.

    8. In Pennsylvania

      Science (Grades 3-5 band): technology and engineering standards replace the national engineering design standards, for example evaluating designs against criteria and constraints (3.5.3-5.U) and using tools and materials safely (3.5.3-5.I).

      Suggested swap in Third Grade

      Science Week 7 (magnet design problem) and Week 24 (building a weather instrument): before building, list what the design must do and its limits; afterward, judge the result against that list and review safe tool use.

    Grade 3 public-school test

    Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA), Grade 3 ELA and mathematics

    For home education testing rules and approved tests, see the Department of Education's home education page.

    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

    • Home education program under 24 P.S. 13-1327.1.
    • A certified private tutor (24 P.S. 13-1327).
    • Enroll in a religious day school or other private school, including one that supervises home-taught students (that school's rules apply).

    Notice or filing

    File a notarized affidavit, or an unsworn declaration signed under penalty of perjury, with the superintendent of your school district of residence before you start, then by August 1 each year. It includes the supervisor's name, each child's name and age, the address and phone, an outline of proposed education objectives by subject area, evidence of required immunizations and health services, an assurance that required subjects are taught in English, and a certification that the supervisor, adults living in the home and persons responsible for the program have not been convicted of listed criminal offenses in the past five years.

    Where to file

    Superintendent of the school district where you live (not the state)

    Filings go to your local district. Find your district and its address in the Pennsylvania Department of Education's EdNA directory (www.edna.pa.gov).

    Office website

    Whether a district accepts filings online varies. For statewide questions: Pennsylvania Department of Education, Office of School Services, Forum Building, 607 South Drive, Floor East, Harrisburg, PA 17120; (717) 214-8212; RA-home-education@pa.gov.

    Required subjects

    Elementary level: 'English, to include spelling, reading and writing; arithmetic; science; geography; history of the United States and Pennsylvania; civics; safety education, including regular and continuous instruction in the dangers and prevention of fires; health and physiology; physical education; music; and art.'

    Instruction time

    At least 180 days or 900 hours a year at the elementary level.

    Testing or evaluation

    An annual evaluation by a qualified evaluator, who interviews the child and reviews the portfolio and certifies whether an appropriate education is occurring. The certification goes to the superintendent by June 30. Standardized tests are required in grades 3, 5 and 8, so one is due in Grade 3.

    Records to keep

    A portfolio: a log made at the time of the reading materials used, samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks or creative materials, and standardized test results in grades 3, 5 and 8.

    Parent or teacher qualifications

    The supervisor (usually the parent) needs a high school diploma or its equivalent. Evaluators (per PDE's May 2026 guide): a licensed clinical psychologist; a certified school psychologist; a Pennsylvania-certified teacher with two years of experience at the level evaluated; a nonpublic school teacher or administrator with two years of Pennsylvania teaching experience in the last 10 years at that level; or another person with the superintendent's prior consent. The supervisor or spouse may not be the evaluator.

    Recent changes

    Since Act 196 of 2014, the evaluator's certification replaces the superintendent's review of the portfolio. Act 55 of 2022 lets home-educated students take part in district cocurricular activities and career and technical education programs. Compulsory school age is 6 (since 2020-21) 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