Jared Polis, Chair of the National Governors Association | https://www.nga.org/governors/ngaleadership/
Colorado Governor Jared Polis has unveiled a comprehensive roadmap for governors aimed at enhancing education systems across the United States. The roadmap, developed through the "Let’s Get Ready: Educating All Americans for Success" initiative, offers policy solutions to equip individuals with necessary skills and competencies post-graduation.
Governor Polis, serving as the 2024-2025 Chair of the National Governors Association (NGA), spearheaded this initiative to broaden the understanding of student readiness beyond basic academic indicators. He emphasized the importance of innovation in education systems to prepare students for workforce readiness, civic engagement, and overall well-being. "The Let’s Get Ready! Initiative is a call for governors to demand better," stated Governor Polis.
Throughout the yearlong project, Governor Polis worked with a diverse group including fellow governors, educators, employers, and policymakers nationwide. Their collaboration resulted in a roadmap that aims to enhance U.S. economic competitiveness by improving educational outcomes.
The Washington Post Editorial Board recently praised the initiative. The project identified four key elements essential for student readiness: academic foundations, workforce preparedness, civic engagement, and lifelong well-being.
The Roadmap for Governors provides action items under five categories:
1. Define a Vision for Student Readiness and Assess How Your State is Measuring It
2. Eliminate Government Silos that Impede Progress
3. Build Systems and Infrastructure to Measure Outcomes
4. Maintain Focus on Outcomes with a Public Dashboard
5. Consider a More Effective Federal Role in Education
This document serves as a starting point for discussions on defining and measuring readiness effectively. To further support these efforts, NGA is initiating a project to assist governors in advancing roadmap priorities and creating dashboards to monitor progress.
For more details on the roadmap or next steps in the "Let’s Get Ready" initiative, visit NGA's website.
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