For those who don't know, the National Governors Association is bipartisan - and not just as a veneer. It is literally built into the structure of the organization, with an annual leadership rotation of Chairs and Vice Chairs, one from each of America's two major parties. So, for instance, last summer, Governor Spencer Cox (R-UT) became Chair with Governor Jared Polis (D-CO) as Vice Chair. And at the 2024 NGA Summer Meeting, Governor Cox handed the gavel off to Governor Polis, with Governor Kevin Stitt (R-OK) stepping into the role as Vice Chair.

You with us so far? Only a little bit more background, and we can get to the good stuff. Each year, since at least 1985, the NGA Chair runs an initiative designed to address a challenge facing America. Last year, Governor Cox launched the Disagree Better initiative to encourage healthy conflict in order to achieve better policies in the face of toxic polarization. It was great, check it out. This year, Governor Polis will lead the "Let's Get Ready" initiative, which will, well, let's hear it from the Governor:

"The Let's Get Ready initiative will tackle how we're making sure that we're looking at outcomes in a way that aligns with student success, and American success, and drives positive change for better results. We want to better learn what factors do and don't drive better outcomes. A year from today, based on the learning from this initiative, we'll release a road map that will support Governors and States to drive innovation, bolster our capacity to measure what works and what doesn't, and most importantly. prepare our students and our States for successful futures."

NGA Chair Governor Jared Polis

In the closing plenary of the 2024 NGA Summer Meeting Governor Polis led a discussion with Governors and education leaders on the importance of adapting U.S. educational systems to better prepare students for the modern workforce. Joining Governor Polis were Indiana Secretary of Education Dr. Katie Jenner and SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr.

Dr. Jenner opened the discussion by reflecting on the creation of the Indiana GPS model (Graduates Prepared to Succeed), which measures post-graduation outcomes like income and employment and how it aligns with state education goals. In launching the program, the Indiana teamed first asked the question: "What really matters to Hoosiers?" And the answer was not only academic mastery, reading and STEM but also skills like communication and collaboration, work ethic, financial literacy and civic literacy. With these critical skills in mind, the team looked at what they were able to measure and, perhaps more importantly, what they didn't know how to measure because "in order to move the needle, you have to know where you're starting." Jenner shared insights from designing the model alongside educators, business leaders and parents, and she talked about how it can be improved in the future, reminding attendees about "the incredible importance for us as a country to not look at education as a linear path, but to really think about how we might blur the lines" between K-12, higher education and workforce development.

Governor Polis turned to Chancellor King for insights into how Governors can best use their leadership roles and political capital to improve educational outcomes. King got straight to the point: "One of the key issues is making sure that initiatives that sound good are actually good." King stressed the need for data quality and accountability in career and technical education programs to ensure students are prepared for jobs. He used the New York Pathways in Technology program as a positive example of how programs should work by providing clear career goals and job opportunities for students.

Other solutions highlighted by the panel include:

• Disrupt higher education and provide stackable credential options for students in K-12, with a focus on data-driven outcomes;
• Provide more feedback to high school teachers on students' post-graduation outcomes, such as college enrollment and job placement;
• Push FAFSA completion for low-income students to access financial aid;
• Focus on literacy and the science of reading in early childhood education; and
• Emphasize STEM education by seeding future STEM learners in early childhood education through hands-on activities like robotics and dual language learning opportunities.

The session ended with a Q&A with Governors, with Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin opening a discussion on the importance of addressing learning loss, chronic absenteeism and early childhood literacy. Hawai'i Governor Josh Green asked panelists how to maximize investments in education. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, speaking from his educational background, brought the conversation back to early childhood education, and Delaware Governor John Carney asked about the effectiveness of tutoring as a literacy intervention. NGA Vice Chair Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt closed the session stressing the importance of integrating workforce development into the high school curriculum.

Watch the full session below, and follow along this year as the Let's Get Ready! Initiative asks the hard questions, and learns from the answers, so Governors can continue to drive innovation and better prepare students for successful futures and our economy for greater success.

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