> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.learningcommons.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Learning progressions
> Reference for learning progressions in Knowledge Graph based on the Student Achievement Partners' Coherence Map: buildsTowards and relatesTo relationships for tracing prerequisite and successor standards.
[Schema last updated September 23, 2025.](#schema-release-history)
## Overview
Knowledge Graph represents learning progressions based on [Student Achievement Partner’s](https://achievethecore.org/) ↗ [Coherence Map for Common Core State Standards for Mathematics](https://tools.achievethecore.org/coherence-map/) ↗. Using learning progressions, you can trace backward or forward from a standard and identify logical paths through which students can progress in their learning.
## Data relationship diagram
The diagram shows only **learning progressions** (Coherence Map). The entity `StandardsFrameworkItem` is defined in [Academic standards](/knowledge-graph/entity-and-relationship-reference/academic-standards); this page documents only the progression relationships between items.
**Example (CCSSM):** Every node is a **standard** (a `StandardsFrameworkItem` from Common Core Math). A **buildsTowards** edge means earlier proficiency supports later—e.g. *3.OA.A.1 (Interpret products)* buildsTowards *4.NBT.B.5 (Multiply multi-digit numbers)*. A **relatesTo** edge links standards that are conceptually related without a fixed sequence—e.g. *3.NF.A.1* might relateTo *3.NF.A.2* (same domain, reinforcing ideas). The diagram does not show the full standards hierarchy (framework → domain → standard); only progression links between standards.
**Edge list (source → relationship → target):**
* `StandardsFrameworkItem` → `buildsTowards` → `StandardsFrameworkItem` (e.g. 3.OA.A.1 → 4.NBT.B.5)
* `StandardsFrameworkItem` → `relatesTo` → `StandardsFrameworkItem` (e.g. 3.NF.A.1 ↔ 3.NF.A.2)
## Learning progression relationships
A learning progression represents a sequenced set of skills or concepts that describe how student understanding develops over time. It is an ordered pathway of learning used to articulate dependencies between standards, Learning components, or other instructional targets. Learning progressions are grounded in research or expert consensus, support interoperability across curricula, and provide a framework for organizing content, guiding instruction, and enabling coherent learning experiences.
The relationships relevant for academic standards are:
* buildsTowards
* relatesTo
### buildTowards
A `buildsTowards` relationship indicates that proficiency in one `StandardsFrameworkItem` supports the likelihood of success in another `StandardsFrameworkItem`. While this relationship reflects a directional dependency, it does not require that the first `StandardsFrameworkItem` be fully mastered before engaging with the second, nor that it is the immediate next step. Instead, it captures a meaningful progression in which earlier learning contributes to later achievement.
`(:StandardsFrameworkItem)-[:buildsTowards]->(:StandardsFrameworkItem)`
#### Example
```json JSON theme={null}
{
"type": "relationship",
"identifier": "23a99f08-73b9-5e2c-a4f6-ac3c0fcad1f8",
"label": "buildsTowards",
"properties": {
"license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"targetEntity": "StandardsFrameworkItem",
"attributionStatement": "Knowledge Graph is provided by Learning Commons under the CC BY-4.0 license. Learning Commons received learning progressions under CC0 from Student Achievement Partners.",
"description": "A buildsTowards relationship indicates that proficiency in one entity supports the likelihood of success in another, capturing a directional progression without requiring strict prerequisite order.",
"identifier": "23a99f08-73b9-5e2c-a4f6-ac3c0fcad1f8",
"provider": "Learning Commons",
"sourceEntity": "StandardsFrameworkItem",
"sourceEntityKey": "caseIdentifierUUID",
"author": "Student Achievement Partners",
"targetEntityKey": "caseIdentifierUUID",
"relationshipType": "buildsTowards"
},
"source_identifier": "0465e0ad-eaf2-5d3e-999f-fe665744aaf1",
"source_labels": [
"StandardsFrameworkItem"
],
"target_identifier": "db51575f-e92e-5a08-904b-66b7b1a5a656",
"target_labels": [
"StandardsFrameworkItem"
]
}
```
### relatesTo
A `relatesTo` relationship connects two `StandardsFrameworkItems` that share a meaningful conceptual or skill-based link without implying a specific sequence or prerequisite order. This non-directed relationship highlights associations that can inform instructional design, curricular coherence, or identification of reinforcing concepts across standards.
`(:StandardsFrameworkItem)-[:relatesTo]->(:StandardsFrameworkItem)`
#### Example
```json JSON theme={null}
{
"type": "relationship",
"identifier": "56411f45-8a4a-5788-b05f-46a4a8acde9d",
"label": "relatesTo",
"properties": {
"license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"targetEntity": "StandardsFrameworkItem",
"attributionStatement": "Knowledge Graph is provided by Learning Commons under the CC BY-4.0 license. Learning Commons received learning progressions under CC0 from Student Achievement Partners.",
"description": "A relatesTo relationship connects two entities that share a meaningful conceptual or skill-based link without implying sequence or dependency.",
"identifier": "56411f45-8a4a-5788-b05f-46a4a8acde9d",
"provider": "Learning Commons",
"sourceEntity": "StandardsFrameworkItem",
"sourceEntityKey": "caseIdentifierUUID",
"author": "Student Achievement Partners",
"targetEntityKey": "caseIdentifierUUID",
"relationshipType": "relatesTo"
},
"source_identifier": "0465e0ad-eaf2-5d3e-999f-fe665744aaf1",
"source_labels": [
"StandardsFrameworkItem"
],
"target_identifier": "d9be53e8-38b3-51d7-beca-8a7d45657481",
"target_labels": [
"StandardsFrameworkItem"
]
}
```
## Schema release history
| Date | Changed |
| ------------------ | -------------- |
| September 23, 2025 | First release. |