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
The State of Advanced Nuclear Energy
Nuclear energy is having a moment. That was the consensus during a briefing the NGA Economic Development and Revitalization Task Force recently hosted in conjunction with the Nuclear Energy Institute ...
Understanding Lapses in Learning
The following letter to editor, regarding “Have We Quit on Learning?,” originally appeared in the New York Times on May 25, 2025 To the Editor: Governors are rising up — ...
Leveraging Data to Improve Child Welfare Outcomes
On May 28th 2025, the National Governors Association Children and Families team hosted the monthly meeting of the Human Services Policy Advisors Institute (HSPAI), featuring a presentation from the Center ...
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
Smarter States, Smarter Communities Learning Lab
The National Governors Association convened representatives from five states to participate in the Smarter States, Smarter Communities Learning Lab to ...
Policy Academy on Scaling Work-Based Learning: Second Cross-State Meeting
The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) hosted the second policy academy cross-state meeting focused on assisting ...
What States Should Know: Practical Applications of Blockchain in Energy
A conversation with David Livingston, Deputy Director at the Atlantic Council and lead author of the report: Applying Blockchain Technology ...
Energy Efficiency Experts Roundtable
The National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices held an Energy Efficiency Experts Roundtable in Washington D.C. with 30 ...
School Safety and Prevention Webinar
The National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices Education, Health, and Homeland Security & Public Safety divisions held a ...
Governors Education Policy Advisors Institute 2018
The National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices convened experts from 19 states, one territory and one international delegation ...
2018 Annual Water Policy Institute
The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) hosted the 2018 Annual Water Policy Institute in San Francisco, ...
Using Emergency Declarations to Address the Opioid Epidemic
The white paper is a result of a roundtable discussion that was held last fall with states that had declared ...
States Expand Employment and Training Opportunities for People with Disabilities
This white paper was developed by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) as part of its ...
2018 Policy Institute for Governors’ Human Services Advisors
The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) Economic Opportunity Division hosted a multi-state Policy Institute as a ...
Public Health Crises and Pharmaceutical Interventions: Improving Access While Ensuring Fiscal Sustainability
The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) released Public Health Crises and Pharmaceutical Interventions: Improving Access While ...
In-State Water Energy Nexus Retreat
August 3 | St. Paul, MN The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) hosted the second Water ...
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…