The National Research Council, the National Science Teachers Association, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Achieve are the lead partners in the two-part process to develop the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The heads of each of these organizations form the Strategic Partners Group, and meet as required to review the progress of the project and provide on-going guidance.

National Research Council: The National Research Council (NRC) is the staffing arm of the National Academy of Sciences, which serve as the nation’s advisors on scientific and technological issues. The NRC coordinated the first phase of the NGSS development process: the development of the Framework for K-12 Science Education.

National Science Teachers Association: The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) is the largest organization in the world committed to promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. Throughout the NGSS development process, NSTA will provide advice to the project and engage the science education community in the feedback process.

American Association for the Advancement of Science: The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing science around the world. Throughout the NGSS development process, AAAS will provide advice to the project and engage the scientific community in the feedback process.

Achieve: Created in 1996 by the nation's governors and corporate leaders, Achieve is an independent, bipartisan, non-profit education reform organization that helps states raise academic standards and graduation requirements, improve assessments and strengthen accountability. Achieve is coordinating the second phase of the NGSS development process on behalf of the lead states and other partners, and will publish the standards when they are released.