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

State of the States: Student and School Staff Health and Wellness

During their State of the State addresses in 2022, Governors highlighted the need for increased social, emotional, mental, and behavioral health supports for students and school staff. By Catherine Van ...
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State of the States: Academic Supports

Governors discussed the impact of interrupted instruction on K-12 students and highlighted plans for additional academic supports, including afterschool and summer learning, during their State of the State addresses. By ...
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Webinar: Education Trends in 2022 State of the State Addresses

NGA partnered with Education Commission of the States (ECS) to produce a report summarizing Governors’ top education priorities as outlined during State of the State addresses. This webinar provides context ...
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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 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

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

Student and Staff Well-Being

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

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

Academic Recovery / Summer Learning and Enrichment

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

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

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

Digital Literacy

Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo moderated a conversation on increasing broadband access, expanding student digital literacy, and preparing the future workforce with CEOs Corie Barry of Best Buy, Beth Ford ...
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Governors Discuss Computer Science Education with Secretary Gina Raimondo and Fortune 500 CEOs

Governor Hutchinson described the historically bipartisan support for K-12 computer science education and how his NGA Chairman's Initiative will engage other Governors on strategies for expanding student access to these ...
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Governor Hutchinson Highlights K-12 Computer Science Initiative at NGA Winter Meeting

NGA Chairman Gov. Hutchinson Unveils Compact to Expand K-12 Computer Science Education During the four-day meeting, Governors held policy discussions on topics including infrastructure investments, strategies to continue to facilitate ...
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Governors Convene in Person for 114th National Governors Association Winter Meeting

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

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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School Leadership Hot Topics

Governor Hutchinson Hosts National Computer Science Education Week Kick-Off

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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National Governors Association Chairman’s Initiative Highlighted at CSEdCon

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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2021 State of Computer Science Education Report

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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Lessons Learned from Afterschool and Summer Learning and Enrichment in 2021

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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