K-12 Education

Governors are leading efforts across the country to ensure that students in their states graduate prepared to succeed in postsecondary, the workforce, and life. The NGA K-12 Education Team supports Governors in these efforts by regularly bringing together Governors’ education policy advisors to connect with and learn from each other and national and state experts in the field; providing ongoing responsive and proactive technical assistance; and through the development of resources and reports that spotlight promising practices and actionable strategies on timely topics, including addressing students’ academic recovery and well-being and strengthening educator recruitment and retention.

Latest

State Education Trends for 2023

State Education Trends for 2023

The top trends across the early childhood, K-12 and postsecondary education continuum from Governors’ 2023 state addresses. In 2022, 36 states and three territories held gubernatorial elections resulting in ten ...
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Academic and Career Success – 2023 NGA Winter Meeting Task Force Meeting

Academic and Career Success – 2023 NGA Winter Meeting Task Force Meeting

At the 2023 NGA Winter Meeting, Idaho Governor Brad Little and Colorado Governor Jared Polis co-hosted a discussion on how Governors are working to meet the needs of students today ...
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Governors Engage with Federal Officials

Governors Engage with Federal Officials

The NGA Winter Meeting offers an opportunity for Governors to meet with Federal Partners and share the real-world impact of federal policies. States are famously “the laboratories of democracy,” and ...
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Strategies for Addressing the Comprehensive Needs of Students and Families Through Community Schools and Wraparound Supports

Strategies for Addressing the Comprehensive Needs of Students and Families Through Community Schools and Wraparound Supports

This webinar discusses strategies to address the comprehensive needs of students and families through community schools and wraparound supports. Panelists explain the evidence in this field, discuss how community schools ...
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K-12 Education: Reflect And Redesign

Watch 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 features of the education system as states and school districts move forward, hosted by the NGA’s Center for Best Practices K-12 Education Team.


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.


Meet The Team

K-12 Topics

Health and Safety

Missouri Governor Mike Parson and Virgin Islands Governor Albert Bryan, co-chairs of the National Governors Association (NGA) Community Renewal Task Force, issued the following statement after meeting with U.S. Secretary ...
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NGA’s Community Renewal Co-Chairs and U.S. Education Secretary Discuss Reopening America’s Schools

NGA’s Community Renewal Co-Chairs and U.S. Education Secretary Discuss Reopening America’s Schools

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

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

Child Care for School-Aged Children


Student and Staff Well-Being

Governors’ advisors met in Greensboro, North Carolina to discuss current challenges and state solutions in K-12 education policy. By Seth Gerson & Catherine Van Ness The National Governors Association (NGA) ...
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Governors’ Education Policy Advisors Institute 2022

Governors’ Education Policy Advisors Institute 2022

At the closing session of NGA’s Summer Meeting 2022, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy accepted the NGA Chair’s gavel from Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and underlined the importance of Governors’ ...
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Governor Murphy Introduces Chair’s Initiative: Strengthening Youth Mental Health Care

Governor Murphy Introduces Chair’s Initiative: Strengthening Youth Mental Health Care

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: Student and School Staff Health and Wellness

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


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

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

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

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


Digital Literacy

Outgoing NGA Chairman Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson opened the NGA Summer Meeting with an overview of his 2021-2022 Chairman’s Initiative to expand K-12 computer science education. After announcing the initiative last ...
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K-12 Computer Science Education – NGA 2022 Summer Meeting

K-12 Computer Science Education – NGA 2022 Summer Meeting

The National Governors Association's 2022 Annual Summer Meeting was held was July 13-15, 2022, in Portland, Maine. Governors met to collaborate on bipartisan solutions to leading policy issues including computer ...
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NGA 2022 Summer Meeting

NGA 2022 Summer Meeting

Portland, Maine – In the opening session of the National Governors Association (NGA) Summer Meeting, NGA Chairman Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson unveiled a Compact to Advance K-12 Computer Science Education ...
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Arkansas Governor Hutchinson Garners Bipartisan Support for Advancing Computer Science Education Nationally

Arkansas Governor Hutchinson Garners Bipartisan Support for Advancing Computer Science Education Nationally


Educator Workforce

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 ...
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School Leadership Hot Topics

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

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

State Highlight: Louisiana’s Efforts to Develop and Support School Leaders


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

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

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

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

Policy Academy on Scaling Work-Based Learning: Knowledge Exchange Learning Lab


NGA K-12 Education Library

Governors, Private Sector, Education Leaders Advance Computer Science Education

Governors, Private Sector, Education Leaders Advance Computer Science Education

BOSTON –National Governors Association (NGA) Chairman Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson convened a meeting with Governors from five other states, private sector representatives, teachers and other experts to discuss bipartisan action ...
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State of the States: Student and School Staff Health and Wellness

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

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

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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Governors Convening on Computer Science Education

Governors Convening on Computer Science Education

Governors, state education leaders and national experts met in Bentonville, Arkansas to discuss the NGA Chairman’s Initiative on K-12 computer science education. By Catherine Van Ness On March 17, 2022, ...
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Arkansas Gov. Hutchinson Advances Computer Science Education Initiative with State Leaders, National Experts

Arkansas Gov. Hutchinson Advances Computer Science Education Initiative with State Leaders, National Experts

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — National Governors Association Chairman Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson convened a meeting with Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, state education leaders, and other national experts to advance NGA’s Chair’s ...
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State K-12 Education Trends for 2022

State K-12 Education Trends for 2022

A look at key education themes across Governors’ State of the State addresses in 2022 By Catherine Van Ness Nearly all Governors of the 55 states, commonwealths and territories deliver ...
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State of the States: K-12 Digital Literacy

State of the States: K-12 Digital Literacy

Governors discussed the current state of the digital divide and emphasized the importance of increasing digital literacy in K-12 education during their State of the State addresses. By Catherine Van ...
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Elevating Opportunities for Innovation: Education Leadership in Colorado and Ohio

Elevating Opportunities for Innovation: Education Leadership in Colorado and Ohio

Conversations with education leaders in Colorado and Ohio co-hosted by the National Governors Association and Chiefs for Change. This two-part webinar series co-hosted by Chiefs for Change and the National ...
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NGA 2022 Winter Meeting

NGA 2022 Winter Meeting

The National Governors Association's 114th annual Winter Meeting was January 28-31, 2022 in Washington, D.C. Governors met to discuss best practices and bipartisan collaboration on leading policy issues including infrastructure, ...
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