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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Proposed Federal Funding Changes to State and Territory Early Childhood Care and Education Systems
On July 23rd, NGA hosted the monthly meeting of the Human Services Advisors Network, which featured presentations on collateral repercussions impacting states’ human services programs, with special attention to early ...
2025 Governors’ Legal Counsel Convening
The 2025 Governors’ Legal Counsel Convening was held on June 25-27 in Coronado, California. Hosted by the National Governors Association, the event brought together Governors’ chief legal counsel, general counsel, ...
Healthy People and Healthy Economies
Governors are responsible for the well-being of residents in their states and territories, working daily on a host of issues impacting individuals and communities. Within this broad portfolio is ensuring ...
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
2025 Governors’ Legal Counsel Convening
The 2025 Governors’ Legal Counsel Convening was held on June 25-27 in Coronado, California. Hosted by the National Governors Association, ...
Healthy People and Healthy Economies
Governors are responsible for the well-being of residents in their states and territories, working daily on a host of issues ...
Let’s Get Ready to Implement a Roadmap for Governors
Each year, the Chair of the National Governors Association runs an initiative aimed at doing what Governors do best: improving ...
Council of Governors Holds 31st Plenary Meeting
The Council of Governors held its 31st Plenary Meeting July 24, 2025, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in conjunction with the ...
How to Build Sustainable Principal Pipelines
Dr. Ellen Goldring from Vanderbilt University joins NGA to talk about how states can support districts in building and sustaining ...
Strengthening State-Level Mental Health Policy During Uncertain Economic Times
Mental illness – which includes a wide range of conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior, such as anxiety disorders, ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Let’s Get Ready for International Best Practices in Education
Through Let’s Get Ready!, Governors are working with parents and educators not just to find new answers but to ask ...
Rx For a Healthier America Policy Academy
Chronic disease is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a condition lasting longer than a ...
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 ...
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…