NGA Center for Best Practices
NGA Center for Best Practices teams develop innovative solutions to today’s most pressing public policy challenges. The NGA Center is the only research and development firm that directly serves the nation’s Governors.
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Protocol Learning Session – Orders of Precedence
This week, the National Governors Association hosted a Protocol Master Policy Series session in partnership with Meridian International Center, a nonpartisan center for diplomacy based in Washington, D.C. The session ...
Governors Homeland Security Advisors Council 2026 Summer Meeting
The Governors Homeland Security Advisors Council (GHSAC) met August 26-27, 2026, in Arlington, VA. The GHSAC regularly brings together Governors’ homeland security advisors from states, commonwealths, territories and the District ...
Reflecting on Thirty Years of TANF
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a flexible block grant for states and territories to help fund a wide range of benefits and services for low-income families. As TANF ...
Reigniting the American Dream
Every American should have the opportunity to build a life of purpose, to strengthen their community, and to help shape a nation defined not only by prosperity, but by potential realized. Yet across our very diverse states, too many people have lost faith in this opportunity. They’ve faced too many obstacles, encountered too many closed doors, and given up the hope of a brighter future. We can do better.
Reigniting the American Dream is more than an initiative. It’s an invitation for every U.S. governor to take action.
Program Areas
Center for Best Practices Library
Governors Homeland Security Advisors Council 2026 Summer Meeting
The Governors Homeland Security Advisors Council (GHSAC) met August 26-27, 2026, in Arlington, VA. The GHSAC regularly brings together Governors’ ...
2026 “Bridging Pathways” Institute: Supporting Higher Education Opportunities in State Correctional Facilities
The 2026 “Bridging Pathways” Institute: Supporting Higher Education Opportunities in State Correctional Facilities was held on August 10-11th in Philadelphia, ...
Briefing on Higher Education Campus Safety and Security
On Thursday, July 16th, the National Governors Association (NGA) hosted its monthly briefing for the Criminal Justice Policy Advisors (CJPA) ...
Reimagining Rural Maternal and Child Health
Rural Health Transformation Program Insights (Download) Maternal and child health (MCH) outcomes continue to raise national concern despite ongoing targeted ...
Building Degree Apprenticeships in Louisiana: A State-Led Approach to Strengthening the Teacher Pipeline
Louisiana’s experience, which has been built on strong pilots that are maturing into a statewide model, offer a few clear ...
Building Degree Apprenticeships in North Carolina: A State-Led Approach to Expanding Earn-and-Learn Pathways
Structurally aligning apprenticeship offices and higher education agencies can significantly reduce friction in program development and help ensure that competencies, ...
Reimagining and Strengthening the Role of the School Principal
Megan Bennett and Chelsi Merry-Chang of the Aspen Institute's Education and Society Program join NGA to discuss bold new ideas ...
Governors Advancing Youth Apprenticeship Through Legislative and Executive Action in 2026
Youth apprenticeships represent a powerful tool for governors to provide opportunities for young people to gain skills and certifications for ...
State Snapshots For Strengthening The Educator Workforce
A series of conversations with nationally recognized experts in the education field on strategies and promising practices for strengthening educator ...
AI and the Future of Work
As the labor market rapidly evolves with advances in artificial intelligence (AI), governors stand at the forefront of innovative, bipartisan ...
Permitting Reform
America’s energy problem is not resources, it is speed. Governors from both parties have united behind a package of commonsense ...
Attainment Through Apprenticeship
Degree apprenticeships are emerging as a powerful strategy for states and territories seeking to align education and workforce systems, address ...
PAST NGA CHAIRS INITIATIVES
- 2024-2025
Gov. Jared Polis’s Initiative
Let’s Get Ready! - 2023-2024
Gov. Spencer Cox’s Initiative
Disagree Better - 2022-2023
Gov. Phil Murphy’s Initiative
Strengthening Youth Mental Health - View all…