Postsecondary Education

Postsecondary education is more important to states than ever before. Within the next decade, nearly two-thirds of the jobs in the U.S. will require some form of college credential. To meet that demand, states must lead efforts to graduate more students from high-quality certificate and degree programs with the resources available.

The NGA Center’s Postsecondary team supports the development and implementation of strategies that activate state policy levers and leverage state resources for educational attainment and career development after high school. This includes short-term/industry credentials, apprenticeship pathways, degree completion efforts, skills-based training, and modernizing state data systems to meet the needs of evolving industry sectors. The team works to create and execute state-focused, high-quality technical assistance and peer learning opportunities to support Governors’ offices in maximizing the impact and effectiveness of their current postsecondary systems while exploring opportunities for innovation.

Meet the team

  • Amanda Winters, Program Director
  • Portia Pratt, Senior Policy Analyst
  • Abigail Rhim, Policy Analyst

NGA Resources

Building an Adult-Friendly Postsecondary Policy Framework

Building an Adult-Friendly Postsecondary Policy Framework

Jobs for the Future, a national nonprofit committed to accelerating the transformation of the American workforce and education systems, presented their state policy framework for engaging and supporting adults through ...
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K-12 to Postsecondary Transitions During COVID-19: Opportunities for Governors and States

Background During this time of unprecedented educational and economic disruption, governors and state leaders can take steps to ensure equitable access to postsecondary education for graduating seniors. Each year, roughly ...
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Reopening Institutions of Higher Education

Nearly all higher education institutions are at least partially closed and have shifted to online instruction during the spring semester. The residential and communal aspects of higher education pose considerable ...
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Supporting K12 and Postsecondary Virtual Learning Environments

This memo analyzes the need to expand access to and support around virtual learning methods as educational institutions move to online instruction. As schools, colleges, and universities across the country ...
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Addressing College Students’ Basic Needs: Housing and Food Insecurity

Addressing College Students’ Basic Needs: Housing and Food Insecurity

Many college students across the nation experience food and housing insecurity. This webinar is part of a series providing technical assistance to the Educate for Opportunity cohort states. Reengaging adult ...
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Letter to U.S. Department of Education Regarding Education Stabilization Fund

April 3, 2020The Honorable Betsy DeVosSecretary, U.S. Department of Education400 Maryland Avenue, SWWashington, DC 20202Dear Secretary DeVos: On behalf of the nation’s governors, we write to urge swift action by ...
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Postsecondary Strategies for COVID-19

Postsecondary education in states is a complicated ecosystem that connects oversight of adult basic education, workforce training programs, veterans’ programs, community colleges, universities, and student support structures. In order to ...
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Pertinent Higher Education Provisions in the CARES Act

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) includes an Education Stabilization Fund of $30.75 billion. Funding is available until September 30, 2021 and is intended to assist ...
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Dual Credit in the Time of COVID-19

Students enrolled in dual credit courses are relying upon multiple stakeholders to execute the transition from the classroom to virtual learning. Questions of where to find resources to continue their ...
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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

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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NGA Selects 6 States to Upskill Adult Learners through the Educate for Opportunity Project

Minnesota, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Louisiana and Wyoming to Use Strada Education Network Data to Strengthen Pathways Between Education and Careers The National Governors Association (NGA) in partnership with Strada Education ...
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Connecting State Financing Policy to Institutional Innovation

Connecting State Financing Policy to Institutional Innovation

June 5-7, 2019 | Portland, OR NGA Solutions: The Center for Best Practices had a meeting focused on transforming state postsecondary financing policies to support institutional change. The meeting brought ...
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