Helping Standards Speak the Same Language

If you're responsible for aligning instructional content to different sets of academic standards—whether across states, grade levels, or countries—you know how hard it can be to find real equivalencies. Simple keyword matching often falls short. The phrasing might change, but the intent behind the standards stays the same. That’s where EdGate’s Semantic Matching comes in.

Built into our ExACT platform, this tool goes beyond how standards are written to understand what they actually mean. It helps you identify accurate matches, even when the language is completely different, so you can align with more confidence and less guesswork.

Understanding Intent Behind the Words

Semantic Matching uses natural language processing (NLP) to analyze the intent behind each standard. Instead of comparing only how standards are written, it helps you understand what they’re asking students to learn or do.

This is especially helpful when standards are phrased differently but share the same meaning. You can identify subtle shifts, find true equivalencies, and make alignment decisions with confidence.

See the Level of Effort at a Glance

When you use Semantic Matching, you’ll get a visual alignment chart that shows how closely two sets of standards align. Each match falls into one of four categories:

  • Match (greater than 85% alignment)

  • Similar

  • Partial

  • Low

This breakdown gives you a quick sense of how much work will be involved in updating your content. For teams working on large-scale alignments, it’s an easy way to prioritize and plan. Full match details, including percentages and standard pairs, are also available in an exportable spreadsheet.

Why Meaning Over Wording Matters

Standards may vary in how they’re written, but the underlying learning goals often overlap. Semantic Matching helps uncover those overlaps by looking at meaning, not just terminology. This is key when:

  • Comparing old and new standards

  • Crosswalking between states

  • Mapping to international frameworks

  • Aligning content in multiple languages

With this kind of insight, you're not just checking boxes. You’re building smarter, more accurate alignments.

Built Right Into ExACT

Semantic Matching is a premium feature in EdGate’s ExACT platform. Once enabled, you can:

  • Run detailed comparisons across standards

  • Work across languages with semantic translation

  • Generate and export reports in several formats

Whether you're a curriculum publisher preparing content for adoption or an agency reviewing frameworks, Semantic Matching gives you the deeper context you need.

Backed by Decades of Alignment Expertise

For more than 20 years, EdGate has been the trusted source for academic standards data and alignment services. Our proprietary tools, expert team, and deep experience with state, national, and international standards make us the partner of choice for publishers, EdTech providers, and education agencies.

Semantic Matching is just one of the ways we help our clients create smarter, more meaningful connections across content and standards.

Ready to See It Work for You?

Try our free online tools to explore how state standards compare to Common Core. Or start a free trial of ExACT to experience Semantic Matching firsthand. Need help? Our team is here to support your alignment goals every step of the way.