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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Let’s Get Ready to Close the Achievement Gaps for All Students

Let’s Get Ready to Close the Achievement Gaps for All Students

The conviction that every student can succeed is one of Let’s Get Ready’s core tenets. As achievement gaps between top-performing students and students needing support widen, Let’s Get Ready has ...
Lessons Learned from the NGA Policy Academy to Drive Thriving Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing

Lessons Learned from the NGA Policy Academy to Drive Thriving Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing

This report expands upon findings from the Policy Academy to Drive Thriving Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing and provides guidance and insight to Governors and other state and territory policymakers ...
How States Are Expanding Quality Summer Learning Opportunities

How States Are Expanding Quality Summer Learning Opportunities

Dr. Julie Fitz from the Learning Policy Institute joins NGA to talk about how states are expanding quality summer learning opportunities. Resources Fact Sheet Report Brief Full Report Summary In ...

Let’s Get Ready

All Americans should have access to education that prepares them for success in life. As the world changes and technology evolves, ensuring all students graduate with the skills and knowledge necessary for success is increasingly critical for our nation’s economic competitiveness.

As Governors, we lead states facing economic opportunities but also challenges, shortages in workforce, skills mismatch, and widening opportunity gaps that limit true economic mobility for Americans. We must take these indicators as a call to action.

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Center for Best Practices Library

Fentanyl Awareness Day 2025

Fentanyl Awareness Day 2025

Tuesday, April 29th marks the 4th annual National Fentanyl Awareness Day. This is a day of reflection and remembrance of ...
Governors Advancing Workforce Development – April 2025

Governors Advancing Workforce Development – April 2025

From classrooms to careers, workforce development is a top priority for Governors who know that a strong economy starts with ...
Governors Prioritizing Postsecondary Strategies: Multiple Pathways Highlighted in 2025 State and Territory Addresses

Governors Prioritizing Postsecondary Strategies: Multiple Pathways Highlighted in 2025 State and Territory Addresses

Governors across the country made clear that postsecondary education remains central to their policy agendas in their 2025 State and ...
Workforce Investments for A Robust Health Ecosystem

Workforce Investments for A Robust Health Ecosystem

To help commemorate National Public Health Week 2025, this publication is part of an NGA series that explores policies, programs ...
Governors Growing Entrepreneurship

Governors Growing Entrepreneurship

This brief highlights four key opportunities for Governors to advance policy that supports entrepreneurship, along with four state examples that ...
Increasing Primary Care Access to Improve Population Health

Increasing Primary Care Access to Improve Population Health

To help commemorate National Public Health Week 2025, this publication is part of a series that explores policies, programs and ...
Community Resilience & Mental Health

Community Resilience & Mental Health

To help commemorate National Public Health Week 2025, this publication is part of a NGA series that explores policies, programs ...
State and Territorial Workforce Development Successes

State and Territorial Workforce Development Successes

State and territory workforce development programs are crucial for addressing local labor market needs by providing training and education that ...
Food is Medicine: Making Nutritious Food Accessible to All

Food is Medicine: Making Nutritious Food Accessible to All

To help commemorate National Public Health Week 2025, this publication is part of a series that explores policies, programs and ...
Driving Public Sector Innovation Through Skills-Based Hiring

Driving Public Sector Innovation Through Skills-Based Hiring

State governments across the nation are leading a transformation in talent management, shifting toward a more skills-focused approach, which prioritizes ...
Nuclear Energy In-State Retreats, Technical Assistance, and Action Planning

Nuclear Energy In-State Retreats, Technical Assistance, and Action Planning

States and Territories are at a variety of stages of development in their nuclear policy, with some states having robust ...
Education Themes in 2025 State of the State Addresses

Education Themes in 2025 State of the State Addresses

As Governors across the country have taken the podium to deliver their 2025 State of the State addresses, they have ...

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