He said the curriculum has a stronger emphasis on historical facts and trends than local schools are looking for in first-grade English language arts.

The research, from the research-and-analysis nonprofit WestEd, examines the Amplify Science 1st grade curriculum—a commercially available program designed to teach to the new standards.

“The idea is to assist parents in understanding something of the 1st-grade curriculum and the ways in which they can help their children to learn,” said Wills, who received a grant from the ...

Many children missed out on kindergarten or experienced a more disrupted version. Now, 1st grade teachers will have to fill in the gaps.

Along with math, science and social studies, gun safety could soon be part of the first-grade curriculum in some Missouri public schools.