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
Building for Tomorrow: Governors Showcase Infrastructure Investment in State of the State Addresses
Infrastructure investment continued to be a top priority for many Governors in their 2025 State of the State or Territory addresses. Governors showcased both infrastructure success stories in their jurisdictions ...
Let’s Get Ready to Change Education’s Status Quo
Illustration by Michelle Kondrich/The Washington Post Regarding Daniel Pink’s March 3 online column, “Why not get rid of grades?”: Governors across the country — Democratic and Republican alike — are ...
State and Territorial Environmental Priorities for Economic Prosperity
The National Governors Association (NGA) and the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) held a Congressional briefing to highlight the critical role of state and territorial governments in environmental protection ...
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
Building for Tomorrow: Governors Showcase Infrastructure Investment in State of the State Addresses
Infrastructure investment continued to be a top priority for many Governors in their 2025 State of the State or Territory ...
Let’s Get Ready to Change Education’s Status Quo
Illustration by Michelle Kondrich/The Washington Post Regarding Daniel Pink’s March 3 online column, “Why not get rid of grades?”: Governors ...
Data and Non-Degree Credentials Learning Community
The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices has launched a Data and Non-Degree Credentials Learning Community to support states ...
State and Territorial Environmental Priorities for Economic Prosperity
The National Governors Association (NGA) and the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) held a Congressional briefing to highlight the ...
Let’s Get Ready to Build Education to Workforce Pipelines
A top Let’s Get Ready! priority is measuring what works – and what doesn’t. There are plenty of bright spots ...
2025 Winter Workforce Development Policy Institute
The first session on the first day of the 2025 Winter Workforce Development Policy Institute, held March 12–14 in Washington, ...
Public Communications Playbook for Energy Emergencies
This playbook outlines essential strategies for state leaders to manage public communications during and energy emergency. This guidance equips Governors ...
Let’s Get Ready to Partner on Education
There is broad bipartisan agreement on the importance of preparing students for success and clear recognition that the current system ...
Supporting States in Maternal and Child Health and Healthcare Workforce
In January 2024, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) launched two projects to support a set ...
H5N1 Avian Flu Emergency Preparedness and Response
On Tuesday, February 25, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices hosted a State and Territorial Leader Advisor Call, ...
Identifying and Implementing Education Solutions
NGA Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis’ Let’s Get Ready initiative is guided by the recognition that the U.S. education system ...
State of the State – 2025
Governors of America's Commonwealths, States and Territories are outlining their priorities for 2025. To showcase their leadership and priorities for ...
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…
