The USA has had a new set of science standards entitled the Next Generation Science Standards since 2014. While their adoption has not been ubiquitous, as curriculum choices are a state rather than a federal decision, they have been adopted by 19 states (plus the District of Columbia). Moreover, they have been influential on the curriculum choices in another 20 states. Several questions of interest arise. Why are they needed? How are they different from what was there before? In what way do these science standards offer an improved model of what we should teach in science? And, specifically for a UK audience, what can be learnt from this innovation? This article attempts to answer such questions.