Many years in the making, the Next Generation Science Standards are the result of a multi-year, interdisciplinary collaboration involving international experts, stakeholders, and the public. The overall process, including multiple review periods, was managed by the National Research Council (NRC), the National Science Teachers Association, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, while the development of the NGSS guidelines themselves was largely a state-led effort.

To develop the Next Generation Science Standards, the committees created a two-step process. The first was to develop an overall Framework for K-12 science education. The second was to develop a set of standards that built upon the Framework and deliver on its goals, which are twofold. First, to educate all students in science and engineering, and second, to provide a base of knowledge for the scientists and engineers of the future.

The First Step: The Framework

The team of scientists and educators who created the Next Generation Science Standards came from all over the United States. As the staffing arm of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Research Council, or NRC, was responsible for convening a committee to identify what science all K-12 students should know. The 18 members of the committee included Nobel Prize laureates, cognitive scientists, science policy experts, education researchers, and standards experts. Each was nationally, if not globally, renowned in his or her respective field.

In addition to the committee who created the Next Generation Science Standards, the NRC worked with four education design teams in the areas of physical science, life science, earth/space science, and engineering. In collaboration with the committee, these design teams created K-12 frameworks for each of their respective disciplines. The team created a Framework using the most current research on science and science learning and released a draft to the public in July of 2010. It outlines what a student in each grade of primary and secondary education should know in the fields of life science, earth science, physical science, and engineering.

In shaping the Framework, the committee took into consideration increasing concerns about globalization, the goal of encouraging STEM careers in the U.S., and science engagement among students. Innovation and invention permeate our modern lives. In an increasingly global landscape, science and technology hold the keys to many of humanity’s most pressing needs and challenges. Hoping to address the critical issue of the United States’ competitiveness in STEM careers, the Framework was formed to capture the students’ interest early and throughout their education. By providing students with necessary foundational knowledge across the board, the committee hoped to encourage not only STEM careers but also a lifelong interest in science and technology.

For high school students, the goal is to graduate with sufficient science knowledge to engage publically on science-related issues, to be thoughtful consumers of scientific information, and to pursue the careers they want.

The Framework, then, is just the first step to help inform decisions at the state level by offering an internationally benchmarked basis for creating science curricula. Once the first draft was released, there was a year of comments and feedback from fellow educators, researchers, and the public until a final Framework was published on July 19, 2011. This critical first step was needed to develop the standards themselves, as the Framework provided an internationally and academically vetted outline for what science students should know.

The Second Step: The Standards

Once the final Framework was released, who created the Next Generation Science Standards? It was up to a coalition of state leaders and education experts to shepherd the development of the NGSS standards themselves. It came down to 26 states, their broad-based teams, a 40-member writing team and partners throughout the country to develop the standards. To ensure that the NGSS standards are consistent with the content and structure of the Framework, the NRC convened a fidelity review at the end of the process.

The actual development of the NGSS standards was largely a state-led effort along with the National Research Council (NRC), the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), among others. But the new science standards are also a direct result of many rounds of interdisciplinary reviews across science, science education, higher education, and the higher education industry. Throughout the development process, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) went through several rounds of review with multiple stakeholder groups. Each group who developed NGSS standards received drafts at least twice throughout the development process.

An advisory committee composed of nationally-recognized leaders in science, science education, business, and industry provided additional guidance and review. As part of the development process for NGSS, the standards underwent multiple reviews from many stakeholders, including two public drafts, allowing all who have a stake in science education an opportunity to inform the development of the NGSS standards.

The writing of the standards themselves was up to the 40-member writing team from a group of 26 states. The writers included experts in science at all education levels, including elementary school science, high school science, and students with disabilities. They were also experts in English language acquisition, education standards and assessment, and workforce development. There was an even mix of K-12 educators who played a critical role in the development of the NGSS standards.

The writing team members who created the Next Generation Science Standards represented the nation’s best and were selected by recommendations from the National Science Teachers Association and the Council of State Science Supervisors. They included Richard A. Duschl, the Waterbury Chair Professor of Secondary Education at Pennsylvania State University, Bob Friend, Chief Engineer of Advanced Space & Intelligence Systems at Boeing, and Kenneth Huff, a middle school science teacher in Williamsville, New York. Though the committee and writing members hailed from all over the United States, there was no federal involvement in either the creation of the Framework nor the NGSS standards.

The Final Step: One Last Review

The last step of the development process for NGSS was the NRC Fidelity Review, designed to compare the NGSS standards to the Framework. They reviewed the final draft submitted by the scientists and educators who created the NGSS standards and to made sure they were aligned with the Framework. The review committee considered some key questions:

• Are the NGSS standards consistent the Framework, regarding its vision for K-12 science education?
• To what extent do the NGSS standards follow the specific recommendations from standards contained in the Framework?
• Are any other changes necessary for consistency with the Framework?

The NRC Fidelity Review was overseen by Patricia Morison, Associate Executive Director for Reports and Communications for DBASSE (Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education) and Suzanne Wilson, a member of the NRC Board on Science Education and a professor at Michigan State University. Appointed by the NRC, the two were responsible for ensuring an independent examination of the new science standards. The reviewers concluded that the NGSS are consistent with the content and structure of the Framework.

The Timeline

Due to the many rounds of expert, stakeholder, and public review, the NRC created a process for the overall development of the NGSS standards. The process was largely a cycle of draft submissions and review periods over a couple of years, as follows:

• Summer 2011: Lead states and writers identified, and writing team begins work
• Fall 2011: State draft
• Winter 2011: Writing team reacts to review
• Winter 2012: State and critical stakeholder draft
• Spring 2012: Writing team reacts to review
• 2012: Public draft
• Summer 2012: Writing team reacts to review
• Fall 2012: State and critical stakeholder draft
• Fall 2012: Writing team reacts to review
• January 2013: Public draft
• Winter 2013: Writing team reacts to review
• Winter 2013: Final draft released to states
• Winter 2013: Edits to final document

The Next Generation Science standards became available when they were completed in April of 2013 and are currently adopted in 16 states. Up to 40 in total are likely to adopt over the next few years. States can start to implement changes to their systems for professional development and teacher training based on a deep understanding of the Framework, even if their state hasn’t yet adopted the NGSS standards. Using the Framework, educators can already think about ways to align curriculum, instruction, and assessment with this vision. Once the NGSS standards are adopted in their state, the process can transition more easily.

Who Developed Next Generation Science Standards Summary

The development of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) was a state-led effort. In addition to the states, those who developed the Next Generation Science Standards include the National Research Council (NRC), the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and other critical partners. They will continue to provide significant support to states as they consider adoption and implementation of the standards. Writing and review teams consisted of K–12 teachers, state science and policy staff, higher education faculty, scientists, engineers, cognitive scientists, and business leaders.

Did you participate in the any of the public feedback periods for the NGSS standards? Do you think any other organization should’ve been involved? For a larger overview of the NGSS standards, check out our post, What are the New Science Standards?

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