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.
Latest
NGA Nuclear Dispatch: Advancing Nuclear Energy in Virginia and Tennessee
After a robust build out of nuclear capacity towards the end of the 20th century, the United States is currently positioned to experience a nuclear renaissance. (Download) Executive Statement While ...
Let’s Get Ready! To Define Success
After a fireside chat on preparing students of all ages for workforce success, and a panel discussion featuring insights from Dr. Richard V. Reeves and Dr. Oon Seng Tan, the ...
Cultivating Consensus in Human Services
It's critical for Governors and human services leaders to navigate complex issues, especially when political tension feels high. In some scenarios, successful implementation can rely more on framing and relationship ...
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.
Program Areas
Center for Best Practices Library
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
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
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
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
As Governors across the country have taken the podium to deliver their 2025 State of the State addresses, they have ...
Governors Reshaping Workforce Development: Turning WIOA Challenges into Workforce Solutions
Across the country, Governors are finding new ways to strengthen their workforce systems. From reorganizing state agencies to improving industry ...
Governors’ Top Education Priorities in 2025 State of the State Addresses
In their 2025 State of the State addresses, governors across the country recognized student progress and shared optimism for their ...
Governors Making the Grade on Infrastructure
Last week, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released their 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, showing an overall ...
Let’s Get Ready to Improve Education and Support Rural Communities
The third panel discussion of the Let’s Get Ready! New York Convening featured Eva Moskowitz, founder and CEO of Success ...
Building for Tomorrow: Governors Showcase Infrastructure Investment in State of the State Addresses
Infrastructure investment continued to be a top priority for many Governors in their 2025 State of the State or Territory ...
Let’s Get Ready to Change Education’s Status Quo
Illustration by Michelle Kondrich/The Washington Post Regarding Daniel Pink’s March 3 online column, “Why not get rid of grades?”: Governors ...
Data and Non-Degree Credentials Learning Community
The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices has launched a Data and Non-Degree Credentials Learning Community to support states ...
PAST NGA CHAIRS INITIATIVES
- 2023-2024
Gov. Spencer Cox’s Initiative
Disagree Better - 2022-2023
Gov. Phil Murphy’s Initiative
Strengthening Youth Mental Health - 2021-2022
Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s Initiative
K-12 Computer Science Education - View all…