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

The National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices Education, Health and Homeland Security and Public Safety divisions held a webinar on School Safety and Prevention on September 17, 2018 ...
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School Safety and Prevention Webinar

In light of the devastating events at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the NGA Education Division hosted a School Safety and Prevention Webinar for Governors’ Education Policy Advisors on Mar ...
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School Safety and Prevention (March 2018)

WASHINGTON—The National Governors Association today released a statement following yesterday’s shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which killed 17 people and left more than a dozen ...
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Governors: ‘Today We Stand With All Floridians’

Student and Staff Well-Being

As Arkansas prepares to welcome students and teachers back to school, their Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education (AWARE) program keeps student and educator well-being a top priority. By Catherine ...
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Arkansas Department of Education Hosts Student & Educator Well-Being Forum

Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan, North Dakota, Oregon, Wisconsin to Advance Whole Child Vision for Students’ Comprehensive Development The National Governors Association (NGA) will collaborate with Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan, North Dakota, Oregon ...
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National Governors Association to Work With 6 States to Meet Social and Emotional Needs of Students and Families

On Jul. 9, 2018, the Education Division, in partnership with NGA's Health and Economic Opportunity Divisions, presented a webinar on Chronic Absenteeism. The session features national and state experts from ...
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Chronic Absenteeism Webinar

Academic Recovery / Summer Learning and Enrichment

National Governors Association, Council of Chief State School Officers Note Summer Opportunities and Cite Examples of State Leadership As state and educational leaders grapple with the effects of the COVID-19 ...
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State Leaders Outline Strategies for Accelerating Student Learning Amid Pandemic

Governors and state chiefs are moving quickly to develop plans that include a range of new strategies, targeted interventions and grant programs designed to close achievement gaps and prepare all ...
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State Plans for Accelerating Student Learning: A Preliminary Analysis

As states shift their focus from the immediate emergency of COVID-19 school closures toward the reopening of schools and educational centers in the summer and fall, there has been growing ...
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Summer Camps and Summer Learning Opportunities

Digital Literacy

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

Partnership Will Deliver Best Practices to States to Improve Attainment in Higher Education, Skills and Work Western Governors University (WGU) and the National Governors Association (NGA) announced today a strategic ...
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Western Governors University and the National Governors Association Announce Strategic Partnership

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson introduces his National Governors Association Chair's Initiative at the National Press Club in Washington. National Governors Association Chairman and Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson introduced his 2021-22 ...
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Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson Introduces NGA Chair’s Initiative on Computer Science Education

Educator Workforce

Hosted by the National Governors Association (NGA) and Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), this webinar highlighted how governors and state education chiefs in Delaware and Tennessee have worked ...
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School Leadership Under ESSA: State Highlights

Many states have recently devoted significant attention to improving the quality of teaching and school leadership. Changes to teacher and principal evaluations as well as modifications to policy and regulation ...
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How Maryland Policymakers Are Working Together to Improve School Principal Quality

The role of the public school principal has expanded dramatically in recent decades. The expanded role means they are now significant multipliers of effective teaching and have a real opportunity ...
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Promising Practices in Boosting School Leadership Capacity: Principal Academies

Education Finance

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) hosted a webinar that provided state examples and strategies to address funding formulas, leverage public taxpayer investments and increase effective ...
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Financing an Equitable and High-Quality K-12 Education System

K-12, Postsecondary, Workforce Connections

Summary This topic paper details how dual and concurrent enrollment programs can help states overcome workforce readiness and postsecondary access and completion challenges and how governors can strengthen these programs ...
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Education Topic Papers a Governor’s Dual Enrollment Framework for Success

$3.5 million in grants to National Governors Association, Education Commission of the States will incubate new pathways to opportunity for 32 million Americans left out of economic growth ...
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Strada Education Network Invests in Development of State Policies for Adult Learners, Disconnected Youth

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) held a learning lab exploring strategies states can use to expand and scale work-based learning opportunities for youth and young ...
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Policy Academy on Scaling Work-Based Learning: Knowledge Exchange Learning Lab

NGA K-12 Education Library

Strategies for Reengaging Students During and 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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Western Governors University and the National Governors Association Announce Strategic Partnership

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson Introduces NGA Chair’s Initiative on Computer Science Education

Work Based Learning

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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