Educators from around the state, with the help of The Vermont Institutes, developed Science Grade Expectations as a means to identify the content knowledge and skills expected of all students for local assessment required under Act 68. This work was accomplished using the "Vermont's Framework of Standards and Learning Opportunities," Vermont curricula, national standard documents, state standard documents, and current research as resources. The Grade Expectations (GEs) were reviewed by science educators from around the state. The data from field review was collected, reviewed, and used to revise the GEs. They were then sent out for Expert Review and revised one final time. GEs are meant to capture the essential learning elements that can be assessed locally. The "Grade Cluster Expectations" were developed from National Science Resources to help teachers and schools identify "core" learning goals (scientific concept benchmarks) and performance goals (evidence of achievement), as students progress through a continuum of scientific learning from grades Pre-K to Twelve. These Expectations can be used to guide both assessment and instruction. The GEs describe the specific developmental level of a learning goal within a two year grade span. At any one cluster, students would be expected to know or be able to do everything that came before as well as the new skills or concepts in the targeted cluster. The Science GEs align with Vermont Framework Standards: 7.1 Scientific Method, and 7.2 Investigation (Inquiry); 7.12 Space, Time, and Matter; 7.13 The Living World; 7.14 The Human Body; and 7.15, The Universe, Earth and Environment.