K-12 Education

Ensuring access to a quality education to help all students reach their full potential is a top priority for Governors across the country. NGA provides information, research synthesis, policy analysis, technical assistance and resources to Governors and their staff on education topics. At the center of the K-12 Education team’s work are three core principles: equity, alignment, and evidence. The team is currently focused on supporting Governors as they transition from pandemic-disrupted learning to reimagining their state’s education systems, including on efforts aimed at closing the digital divide; addressing students’ academic recovery and wellbeing; and strengthening educator development and support systems.

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Improving Student, Family And School Staff Well-Being

NGA is working with six states and national and state partners, as well as grant support, to develop and carry out action plans focused on one or more specific state policy priorities related to students’ comprehensive development during and beyond COVID-19.

School Leadership Hot Topics

On School Leadership Hot Topics, nationally recognized education experts share their knowledge and insights on strategies and promising practices for advancing school leadership policies and priorities at the gubernatorial and state level. For additional information and resources on principals and school leaders, please visit the Wallace Foundation Knowledge Center.

Latest

American Rescue Plan State Funding Profiles

State-specific funding profiles that illustrate federal to state resource allocation to support children and students under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. After the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act ...
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State of the States 2022

Governors of states, territories and commonwealths are outlining their priorities for 2022 in state of the state or commonwealth addresses, as well as inaugural addresses for new and re-elected Governors ...
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Strategies for Supporting Students with Unique Needs During & Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic

This series of webinars explores strategies for supporting students with unique needs as they recover from disrupted school years. Panelists offer lessons learned and promising practices, especially related to the ...
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2021-2022 CHAIRMAN’S INITIATIVE

Computer Science Education

Jobs that require computer science skills and knowledge will only continue to grow during the 21st century. Especially as more remote working opportunities arise, state leaders want to ensure that graduates have the skills they need to find high-paying jobs without leaving the state. Governors are leading the charge to identify best practices in expanding access to computer science education in K-12 schools across the country. Governor Hutchinson’s Initiative will focus on how states can expand access to computer science opportunities, including discussions on how to ensure equitable access to computer science education.

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Meet Our Team

Seth Gerson
Program Director

Catherine Van Ness
Senior Policy Analyst

Katie Nichols
Policy Coordinator

K-12 Topics

Health and Safety

Summary of Established State Thresholds (View/Download) Introduction As the country continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring high-quality K-12 education while also minimizing the risk that students, teachers, and staff ...
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COVID-19 K-12 SCHOOL OPENING AND CLOSING POLICIES

The need for child care for both young and school age children, who are learning from home during the day while adults work, has thus expanded to more families and ...
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Child Care for School-Aged Children

(View/Download) Introduction Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and corresponding economic decline, the number of Americans experiencing food insecurity has skyrocketed in the United States. According to surveys administered by the ...
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School Nutrition and Meals Programs During K-12 School Reopening

Student and Staff Well-Being

Strategies for Supporting Students with Unique Needs During & Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic

This webinar explores strategies for Governors to help school districts in addressing chronic absenteeism and reengaging students as they continue learning in pandemic-disrupted circumstances. The webinar offers lessons learned and ...
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Strategies for Reengaging Students During and Beyond The COVID-19 Pandemic

NGA has been working with six states to improve services and programs that serve the social-emotional and mental health needs of students and school staff. The NGA Center for Best ...
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Improving Student, Family and School Staff Well-Being

Academic Recovery / Summer Learning and Enrichment

This webinar highlights lessons learned for afterschool and summer learning programs during the pandemic and Summer 2021. Panelists offer recommendations regarding accelerating learning, re-engaging students, and effective use of federal ...
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Lessons Learned from Afterschool and Summer Learning and Enrichment in 2021

A series of conversations with subject matter experts, state education leaders, and practitioners that reflect on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and elevate strategies and models for redesigning key ...
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K-12 Education: Reflect And Redesign

Strategies for Reengaging Students During and Beyond The COVID-19 Pandemic

Digital Literacy

Arkansas Governor and NGA Chairman Asa Hutchinson hosted the official national launch event for #CSEdWeek 2021 in Little Rock, Arkansas. By Catherine Van Ness On Friday, November 3, 2021, NGA ...
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Governor Hutchinson Hosts National Computer Science Education Week Kick-Off

The national computer science education conference in Los Angeles, California brought together state leaders, local educators, and industry partners to discuss strategies to expand access and equity in computer science ...
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National Governors Association Chairman’s Initiative Highlighted at CSEdCon

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson’s NGA Chairman’s Initiative aims to expand access to K-12 computer science education across the United States and territories. During this webinar, Dr. Katie Hendrickson of Code.org ...
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2021 State of Computer Science Education Report

Educator Workforce

School Leadership Hot Topics

In this webinar, Dr. Paul Manna of William and Mary shares findings from his new report, How Can State Policy Support Local School Districts as They Develop Comprehensive and Aligned ...
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State Policy Levers to Support Principal Pipelines

On Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, the Education Division hosted a webinar on school leadership, titled “State Highlight: Louisiana’s Efforts to Develop and Support School Leaders.” During this webinar the division ...
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State Highlight: Louisiana’s Efforts to Develop and Support School Leaders

Education Finance

American Rescue Plan State Funding Profiles

This webinar explores opportunities, challenges, and strategies for governors as they create and move forward state education budgets during and beyond COVID-19. Topics of the conversation include how governors can ...
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Strategies for Advancing Equity Through State Education Budgets During & Beyond COVID

On February 14, 2018, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices Education division and WestEd held a webinar focused on early care and education (ECE) finance. The webinar highlighted ...
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Financing an Equitable and High-Quality System: Investing in Early Learning

K-12, Postsecondary, Workforce Connections

Work-based learning provides students with authentic work experiences where they apply and develop employability and technical skills that support success in careers and postsecondary education. Work-based learning activities culminate in ...
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