The science education standards, which were developed in the 1990s, were too broad and vague, and for not providing enough focus on hands-on learning, scientific inquiry, and the integration of science and engineering practices. There was also concern that students were not receiving the knowledge and skills they needed to succeed in the rapidly evolving world of science and technology.

To improve science education and to better prepare students for college and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, NGSS was developed to address these issues by providing a more coherent and rigorous set of standards that would emphasize the development of critical thinking, problem-solving, and inquiry skills, and that would better align with current scientific research and practices. The standards were also designed to provide a more unified and comprehensive approach to science education across the country, and to better prepare students for the demands of a 21st-century workforce that requires advanced scientific knowledge and skills.

NGSS stands for Next Generation Science Standards. It is a set of science education standards for K-12 students in the United States. NGSS was developed by a consortium of 26 states, led by the National Research Council, the National Science Teachers Association, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The standards emphasize three dimensions of science learning: science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas.

Science and engineering practices refer to the skills and behaviors that scientists and engineers use to investigate the natural world and design solutions to problems. These practices include asking questions, developing and using models, planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, constructing explanations and designing solutions, engaging in argument from evidence, and obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information.

Crosscutting concepts are big ideas that cut across multiple scientific disciplines and help students make connections between different areas of science. These concepts include patterns, cause and effect, scale and proportion, systems and system models, energy and matter, and structure and function.

Disciplinary core ideas are the specific concepts and content that students should know in each scientific discipline, such as life sciences, physical sciences, earth and space sciences, and engineering.