From the National Science Teachers Association

What are standards?

A strong foundation in science, technology,
Standards are the learning goals for what students should
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) will put
know and be able to do at each grade level. Standards
your child on the road to success in school and
are not curriculum and do not tell teachers how to teach;
beyond. Important critical-thinking skills will
rather, they are used as a tool to help teachers know what
cultivate the great thinkers and innovators of
tomorrow and promote a better educated public.
to teach, to help parents know what children are expected
And, graduates in the STEM fields will have great to learn, and to help schools and teachers know what to
job prospects. assess. For example, a second-grade learning goal is for
students to be able to plan and conduct an investigation
Young children ask many questions, just like
to determine if plants need sunlight and water to grow.
scientists. But by the time kids get to middle
A teacher decides how best to teach students to achieve
school, many think that science is hard and means
memorizing a lot of facts. Far too many kids never
this goal. As part of the instruction, one teacher may lead
get a chance to explore and engage in science students in a hands-on lesson that involves growing plants
as its done in the real world by scientists. The time with and without water, while another may ask students to
has come to make a change and help all students examine data comparing levels of rainfall and crop growth
develop a scientific way of thinking that will in an area.
prepare them to be informed citizens and ready
for college and careers.

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

developed by teachers, scientists, and leaders in
science and science education from around the
country, focus on the big ideas in science and
emphasizes the common practices that scientists
use every day, such as planning investigations,
developing models, and designing solutions. The
NGSS encourage students to learn the processes
of science in a deep, meaningful way through
firsthand investigative experiences, instead of
just memorizing facts for a test. This scientific way
of thinking will ensure that the concepts children
learn in school will stay with them not just for a day,
a week, or a yearbut for a lifetime.

Here are answers to a few questions you might have

about the Next Generation Science Standards.
What are the Next Generation Science STEM JOBS PAY MORE
Standards? Average advertised entry-level salaries STEM vs. non-STEM
Like learning to ride a bike or play music, the experience of
STEM Non-STEM
doing science is far more important than just reading about
it in a book. The NGSS promote a new way of teaching and
Bachelors
learning that allows students to actively do and experience
science in a deep, meaningful way, not just learn about it
from a textbook or a lecture. The standards accomplish this
by integrating three dimensions of learning: Sub-Bachelor

science disciplinary core ideas (the content, for

example, biology); 0 20 40 60 80
Salary
major practices (how science is conducted in the
Source: Burning glass technologies
real world, such as through planning and carrying out
investigations); and
crosscutting concepts (science ideas, like cause and
effect, that permeate all the sciences).

The new standards also incorporate important engineering

and technology principles, starting in elementary school.
Most importantly, the NGSS set high expectations for all
students, not just those planning to pursue STEM careers.

Education teams from 26 states led the development

of the NGSS, with a 41-member writing team (many of
them classroom teachers) and in collaboration with many
stakeholders, experts, and partners, including NSTA.
Thousands of educators, parents, and other community
members also participated in an extensive review of drafts.

How do I know if my state has adopted

the NGSS or if my school or district
is using or planning to use the new
standards?
As of March 2017, 18 states and the District of Columbia
(representing more than 35% of the students in the United
States) have officially adopted the NGSS, and other states and
districts plan to adopt the NGSS in the future (get updates at
www.nsta.org/ngss). Regardless of state adoption decisions,
many school and district leaders recognize the value
of these new standards and are working to incorporate
the NGSS into curriculum and instruction. To find out if Are the NGSS different from the Common
or when the NGSS are coming to your school, start by Core State Standards?
contacting your childs science teacher or your school The NGSS were developed independently and are not part
districts office of science. If there are no plans to adopt of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) initiative.
or use the standards, we encourage you to speak up and The CCSS initiative (released in 2010) establishes goals for
request that your school or district look into using the new what students should know in mathematics (CCSS-M) and in
standards. English language arts (CCSS-ELA) at the end of each grade.
While the CCSS-ELA standards do include goals for reading
How will NGSS change my childs and writing within content areas, such as science, they do
science classroom? not and should not replace the NGSS.
Teachers will emphasize scientific exploration and
experimentation, instead of giving long lectures and In contrast, the NGSS (released in 2013) present the science
expecting students to memorize lists of facts. Youll see content, practices, and concepts students should know at
engaging classroom experiences with children asking more different grade levels and build coherently as they progress
questions, exploring and discussing possible solutions, from kindergarten to 12th grade.
investigating science concepts, using argumentation, and
being fully active in the learning process. This approach The NGSS development team worked closely with the
mirrors real-world science practices and engages students CCSS writers to ensure the science standards align to
deeply in the learning process. the mathematics content and make important literacy
connections.

Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates Meeting ACT College

Readiness Benchmarks by National Science Foundation STEM Interest

100 STEM (11.6%) Non-STEM (88.4%)

80 Greater percentages of
70 graduates interested in STEM
subjects met college readiness
59
Percent

60 57 57
benchmarks in all subject areas,
44 including English and reading.
41
40 Source: act.org
33

21
20

0
English Reading Mathematics Science
 Projected Growth in STEM and Non-STEM Employment

STEM employment 18%

17.0%
Non-STEM employment
15%

12%

9.8%
9%

6%

3%

0
2008-18 projected growth

Source: ESA calculations using Current Population Survey public-use microdata

and estimates from the Employment Projections Program of the bureau of Labor Statistics

What can I do to prepare my child for a STEM-filled world?

Studies show that family involvement is one of the biggest predictors of success in school. Thats why parental involvement
is so important. Seek opportunities to explore science at home and in the community with your child. Encourage them to
keep asking questions, just like scientists. Let them know you dont have all the answers, and together try to find them. We
also encourage you to get involved at your childs school and connect with teachers to learn more about changes in science
instruction as they occur. And, help inspire children by exploring careers in STEM fields.

Be sure to check out NSTAs parent page at www.nsta.org/parents. Youll find tips to support science learning at home,
information about our line of childrens picture books, links to student competitions, recommendations for science trade
books, and much more.

Want to learn more about the NGSS? Visit the NGSS@NSTA Hub at www.nsta.org/ngss, or the official NGSS web page at
www.nextgenscience.org.

1840 Wilson Boulevard

Arlington, VA 22201
www.nsta.org
Updated: March 2017