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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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 the year ahead, the National Governors Association is collecting their ...
Using Plain Language for Effective Health Communication
Governors are focused on improving the health and well-being of their constituents, and health communication is a tool that can support this. States and territories are exploring ways to increase ...
Advanced Grid Technologies: Governor Leadership to Spur Innovation and Adoption
This paper is part of a series published by the National Governors Association (NGA) to identify actions Governors can take to guide their states and territories through intentional and effective ...
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
Parents and Children Thriving Together: The Role of State Agencies in Crafting a Statewide Two-Generation Strategy
Summary Governors are responsible for ensuring that state government systems meet the needs of low-income families as effectively and efficiently ...
Retreat on Energy Resilience Coordination and Planning in Oregon and Washington
January 31, 2018 | Portland, OR With the increased prevalence of large-scale natural disasters and the threat of a future ...
Addressing Housing Instability Through Systems Alignment and Coordination
Summary Governors are in a unique position to streamline safety net efforts by strengthening cross-system collaboration to serve vulnerable populations ...
GridEx IV State After-Action Workshop
January 23-24, 2018 | Washington, DC Agenda Presentations January 23, 2018 Welcome Remarks and Introductions Speakers: Jeff McLeod, director, Homeland ...
Work-Based Learning Policy Academy Cross-State Meeting
January 17-19, 2018 | Indianapolis, IN The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) hosted a policy academy ...
Governors’ Recommendations for Federal Action to End the Nation’s Opioid Crisis
Opioids continue to fuel the worst drug overdose epidemic in our nation’s history, claiming the lives of 115 individuals every ...
Demystifying the Use of Public Private Partnerships in the Water Sector and Key Actions Governors Can Take to Enable their Use
Welcome and Introduction of Speakers Bevin Ann Buchheister, JD, Senior Policy Analyst, National Governors Association What, Why and How to ...
States Continue Advancing Strategies to Scale Work-Based Learning
Summary States increasingly need a more highly skilled workforce to meet the requirements of businesses, keep up with a rapidly ...
Transportation Innovation Summit
January 9-12, 2018 | Henderson, NV The world is changing rapidly, with new innovative technologies spurring what some have declared ...
States Continue Advancing Strategies to Scale Work-Based Learning
This paper is a guide for how governors can lead the way on expanding work-based learning opportunities as part of ...
Financing an Equitable and High-Quality K-12 Education System
The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) hosted a webinar that provided state examples and strategies to ...
Governors’ Education Policy Advisors Institute
December 13-15, 2017 | Miami Beach, FL The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) hosted governors’ education ...
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…
