NGA Center for Best Practices
NGA Center for Best Practices teams develop innovative solutions to today’s most pressing public policy challenges. The NGA Center is the only research and development firm that directly serves the nation’s Governors.
Latest
Understanding Lapses in Learning
The following letter to editor, regarding “Have We Quit on Learning?,” originally appeared in the New York Times on May 25, 2025 To the Editor: Governors are rising up — ...
Leveraging Data to Improve Child Welfare Outcomes
On May 28th 2025, the National Governors Association Children and Families team hosted the monthly meeting of the Human Services Policy Advisors Institute (HSPAI), featuring a presentation from the Center ...
Legal Considerations Related to Gubernatorial Appointment Powers and Procedures
On Tuesday, June 3, the National Governors Association hosted its monthly briefing for Governors’ legal counsel which discussed gubernatorial appointment powers and procedures. Gubernatorial appointment authority is a fundamental component ...
Let’s Get Ready
All Americans should have access to education that prepares them for success in life. As the world changes and technology evolves, ensuring all students graduate with the skills and knowledge necessary for success is increasingly critical for our nation’s economic competitiveness.
As Governors, we lead states facing economic opportunities but also challenges, shortages in workforce, skills mismatch, and widening opportunity gaps that limit true economic mobility for Americans. We must take these indicators as a call to action.
Program Areas
Center for Best Practices Library
Understanding Lapses in Learning
The following letter to editor, regarding “Have We Quit on Learning?,” originally appeared in the New York Times on May ...
State Government as a Model Employer for People with Disabilities: A Playbook for Governors
This playbook highlights six actionable strategies Governors can use to improve state government career paths for people with disabilities. (Download) ...
Governors are Supporting Older Adults and Driving Improved Population Health
The number of older adults in the U.S. is growing at a faster rate than any other age group and ...
State Strategies for School-Based Mental Health Services
As part of the 2024 Policy Academy to Drive Thriving Youth Mental Health, the National Governors Association supported the development ...
State Funding and Financing Strategies for Advancing Energy Projects
This policy brief highlights several state case studies of effective funding and financing mechanisms for energy projects, including the braiding ...
NGA Hosts Webinar with First Lady Jennie Gordon, Highlights Strategic Partnerships First Spouses Form to Advance Initiatives
On May 16, NGA’s Health Equity Learning Network held a webinar focused on ways states and territories can address food ...
Budgets and Programs in Balance: Understanding the Fiscal Impact of Federal Policy Across State and Territory Systems
The NGA Public Health and Disaster Response Task Force, co-chaired by Hawai`i Governor Josh Green and Vermont Governor Phil Scott, ...
Policy Academy to Advance Youth Apprenticeship
As a national partner in the Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA), the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices ...
The Role of States in Shaping a Future-Ready EV Workforce
States remain on the front lines of developing the skilled workforce needed to support the electric vehicle (EV) sector’s continued ...
Governors Leading Economic Development
Governors are their states’ chief economic ambassadors, touting the unique advantages their states offer to businesses, and advocating a host ...
Maternal Mental Health Week 2025
Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week is an opportunity to recognize and discuss mental health conditions that can arise during and ...
Congressional Briefing on Governors Reshaping Workforce Development
Last week, NGA and the Harvard Project on Workforce hosted a virtual congressional briefing to present results from the recently released report, Governors Reshaping ...
PAST NGA CHAIRS INITIATIVES
- 2023-2024
Gov. Spencer Cox’s Initiative
Disagree Better - 2022-2023
Gov. Phil Murphy’s Initiative
Strengthening Youth Mental Health - 2021-2022
Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s Initiative
K-12 Computer Science Education - View all…