NGA CENTER FOR BEST PRACTICES
The NGA Center for Best Practices teams and divisions develop innovative solutions to today’s most pressing public policy challenges. The center is the only research and development firm that directly serves the nation’s governors.
Aligning State Systems for a Talent-Driven Economy: A Road Map for States
The National Governors Association (NGA) has released a comprehensive report, Aligning State Systems for a Talent-Driven Economy: A Road Map for States. The road map highlights the current disparities in the U.S. between the high number of jobs requiring advanced technical education and the dwindling population of workers with the skills to fill them. The report also identifies the process for governors to solve this challenge by aligning education and training with the needs of states’ economies.
Today’s fastest-growing industries demand not only new skills but a higher level of skills overall. In fact, individuals who have obtained these higher-level skills have enjoyed more success in the economy. For example, individuals with at least some postsecondary education have captured 11.5 million of the 11.6 million jobs created since 2007, whereas individuals with a high school diploma or less education have faced a net loss of more than 5.5 million jobs since 2007. Today, there is a consensus among experts and practitioners that postsecondary education or training is the new minimum for succeeding in today’s economy. Download the report.
Economic Opportunity Division
The Economic Opportunity Division provides information, research, policy analysis, technical assistance and resource development for governors and their staff across a range of policy issues. The division covers economic development and innovation; workforce development focused on industry-based strategies; pathways to employment and populations with special needs; and human services for children, youth, low-income families and people with disabilities.
Education Division
The Education Division provides information, research, policy analysis, technical assistance and resource development for governors and their staff in the areas of early childhood, K-12 and postsecondary education. The division focuses on helping governors develop effective policy and support its implementation in the areas of: early education, readiness and quality; the Common Core State Standards, Science Technology Engineering and Math and related assessments; teacher and leader effectiveness; competency-based learning; charter schools; data and accountability; and postsecondary (higher education and workforce training) access, success, productivity, accountability, and affordability. The division also works on policy issues related to bridging the system divides among the early childhood, K-12, postsecondary and workforce systems.
Environment, Energy & Transportation Division
The Environment, Energy & Transportation Division (EET) provides information, research, policy analysis, technical assistance and resource development for governors and their staff in the areas of energy, environment and transportation sectors. The division focuses on several issues, including improving energy efficiency, enhancing the use of both traditional and alternative fuels for electricity and transportation, developing a modern electricity grid, expanding economic development opportunities in the energy sector, protecting and cleaning up the environment, exploring innovative financing mechanisms for energy and infrastructure and developing a transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods.
Health Division
The Health Division provides information, research, policy analysis, technical assistance and resource development for governors and their staff across a range of policy issues. The health division covers issues in the areas of health care service delivery and reform, including payment reform, health workforce planning, quality improvement, and public health and behavioral health integration within the medical delivery system. Other focus areas include Medicaid cost containment, state employee and retiree health benefits, maternal and child health, prescription drug abuse prevention and health insurance exchange planning.
Homeland Security & Public Safety Division
The Homeland Security & Public Safety Division provides information, research, policy analysis, technical assistance and resource development for governors and their staff about emerging policy trends across a range of homeland security and public safety issues. Current issues include cybersecurity, prescription drug abuse, public safety broadband, sentencing and corrections reform, homeland security grant reform, justice information-sharing, and public health preparedness.