Standards-based grading (SBG) is an alternative approach to grading that uses standards, such as the NGSS, to communicate what students have learned. While SBG has increased in popularity in the last decade, questions still remain in regard to what constitutes SBG and how to effectively implement it in science classrooms. However, questions remain in regard to how to best use SBG alongside the NGSS. This article seeks to illustrate three commonly agreed-upon core ideas for SBG and provide examples for middle school science teachers in how they might implement SBG using the NGSS.