What does vertical alignment in education refer to?

Vertical alignment in education refers to the mapping of curriculum through successive grade levels. This means that educational content and skills are deliberately structured to build on one another as students progress through their education from one grade to the next. The goal is to ensure that there is a coherent progression in learning objectives, which helps students develop a deep understanding of concepts over time. Each grade level's curriculum is designed to complement and extend the learning of the previous grades, facilitating a smoother transition and continuity in education.

Other concepts like the continuity of the curriculum across different schools or aligning teaching methods with learning styles are important, but they do not specifically address the methodical and sequential approach taken in vertical alignment. Likewise, the assessment of students' vertical growth is focused on measuring progress rather than organizational curriculum planning itself. Thus, option C accurately captures the essence of vertical alignment in educational contexts.