Beginning in January of 2010, the Carnegie Corporation of New York funded a two-step process to develop a new set of state developed science standards intended to prepare students for college and career readiness in science. These new internationally benchmarked science standards, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) were completed in April of 2013. From his perspective as the coordinator of the development of the NGSS, the author discusses the background regarding the development, key features and some of the challenges ahead in implementing the NGSS.