Experts Weigh In on the Education Roadmap for Governors
Washington, D.C. – Former NGA Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis unveiled an Education Roadmap for Governors last week, building on his yearlong initiative, Let’s Get Ready! Educating All Americans for Success.
The Roadmap is the product of extensive collaboration with educators, parents and families, students, researchers, and community and business leaders. Through a series of convenings across the nation, education leaders undertook a fresh, original review of education challenges, developing innovative solutions to support learners at every stage of their educational journey along four priority categories: academic foundations, workforce preparedness, civic engagement, and lifelong well-being. Let’s Get Ready is designed to support Governors and states to drive innovation, bolster capacity to measure what works and what doesn’t, and prepare students for successful futures and the economy for greater success.
Here’s what expert Roadmap contributors had to say:
“The Hewlett Foundation is proud to support the Roadmap. Civic learning and engagement are such important parts of preparing students for success in the classroom, in their careers and in our communities. We look forward to continued collaboration with governors to make sure every student has access to experiences that equip them with the knowledge, skills and mindsets they need to support their individual successes and our collective good.”
“Let’s Get Ready is an idea whose time has come – our young people can do so much more, and there are jobs we need to fill. High school students need courses and credentials for the careers they seek. College Board stands behind Governor Polis, NGA, and state leaders to deliver opportunity.”
“Google is committed to helping everyone access the knowledge and skills they need to thrive. AI literacy is essential for preparing individuals for future success. That’s why we’re pleased to be part of the Let’s Get Ready Roadmap. Education and workforce training programs play a crucial role in helping learners and educators use AI tools to achieve their goals. The Let’s Get Ready Roadmap reinforces the importance of preparing learners for the future of work. We commend the governors for their vision, and we look forward to working together to ensure the opportunities of the AI era are widely shared.”
“All4Ed applauds the release of the Roadmap, but we know the work of Let’s Get Ready is far from over. At All4Ed, we are dedicated to advancing policies and practices that ensure all students graduate high school prepared for college, work, and life. That work must start with evaluating and measuring how well our schools are preparing their students, particularly those furthest from opportunity, for success in today’s world. We look forward to continuing to work with governors to use this Roadmap to transform and improve our education system, from the classroom to Congress.”
“Strada Education Foundation is proud to support the National Governors Association’s Let’s Get Ready initiative. At a time when states are navigating rapid economic and technological change, this effort reflects the kind of bold, bipartisan leadership needed to prepare more Americans for success after high school. By focusing on clear, actionable strategies to align education and workforce systems, NGA is helping to ensure that all learners, especially those learners facing the greatest challenges, can access opportunity and thrive in the evolving economy. We are excited to be a partner in this important work.”
“I’m thrilled we could contribute both research and practical recommendations to the Roadmap. The Student Upward Mobility Initiative strives to ensure students leave high school with the skills they need to succeed. By equipping policymakers with research-backed indicators to plan, set goals, and track progress, we are eager to continue collaborating with governors to ensure every student is prepared to thrive.”
Governor Polis unveiled the Roadmap during the NGA Summer Meeting last week in Colorado Springs, leading a bipartisan conversation with governors from around the nation, and holding fireside chats with entrepreneur Mark Cuban and Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
The Roadmap is designed as a jumping off point to begin key conversations about improving ways to define and measure readiness. To catalyze collaboration, NGA is launching a project later this year to support governors in advancing Roadmap priorities and in building dashboards to track outcomes.
Click here to read the full Roadmap, and visit NGA’s website to learn more about next steps for Let’s Get Ready.
