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
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 ...
Governors’ Perspectives on Addressing Child Care Needs: Supply and Demand Trends to Watch
Opportunities abound for state-led solutions, and Governors continue to take up the mantle by continuing to prioritize increasing the availability of early care and education. (Download) Ten years ago, Governors’ ...
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
Let’s Get Ready to Build Education to Workforce Pipelines
A top Let’s Get Ready! priority is measuring what works – and what doesn’t. There are plenty of bright spots ...
2025 Winter Workforce Development Policy Institute
The first session on the first day of the 2025 Winter Workforce Development Policy Institute, held March 12–14 in Washington, ...
Public Communications Playbook for Energy Emergencies
This playbook outlines essential strategies for state leaders to manage public communications during and energy emergency. This guidance equips Governors ...
Let’s Get Ready to Partner on Education
There is broad bipartisan agreement on the importance of preparing students for success and clear recognition that the current system ...
Supporting States in Maternal and Child Health and Healthcare Workforce
In January 2024, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) launched two projects to support a set ...
H5N1 Avian Flu Emergency Preparedness and Response
On Tuesday, February 25, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices hosted a State and Territorial Leader Advisor Call, ...
Identifying and Implementing Education Solutions
NGA Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis’ Let’s Get Ready initiative is guided by the recognition that the U.S. education system ...
State of the State – 2025
Governors of America's Commonwealths, States and Territories are outlining their priorities for 2025. To showcase their leadership and priorities for ...
Governors Bring What Works to DC
If you Google “February Vacation Destinations” Washington, D.C., probably doesn’t even crack the top 200. But that’s ok. Because when ...
First Spouses Meet with Agriculture Secretary, Convene at 2025 NGA Winter Meeting
First Spouses routinely convene at the annual NGA Winter Meeting to hold meetings with philanthropic and government leaders and elevate ...
Council of Governors Holds 30th Plenary Meeting
The bipartisan Council of Governors (COG) was established by Section 1822 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 and ...
Empowering Progress: Harnessing Skills-Based Strategies to Drive Public Sector Excellence
The public sector plays a key role in advancing skills-based strategies, driven by gubernatorial leadership. Whether in the early stages ...
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…