Jared Polis, Chair of the National Governors Association | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_Polis
America’s governors are taking steps to improve the connection between education and workforce needs, according to a new resource released by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) in partnership with All4Ed. The "Governors Playbook: Future Ready Pathways" offers strategies for governors and their advisors to better align education systems with talent development, expand career-connected learning, and address the changing demands of state economies.
The playbook is designed as a companion to the Let’s Get Ready Roadmap, which was developed by Colorado Governor Jared Polis during his tenure as Chairman of the National Governors Association. It focuses on both policy and practice to help ensure students have access to pathways that are rigorous and relevant to today’s workforce.
The playbook outlines four main actions for governors:
- Establishing a unified vision by bringing together state leaders, educators, employers, and community partners through statewide initiatives such as Rhode Island’s PrepareRI or Oklahoma’s Human Potential for Future Industries Task Force.
- Creating management structures that foster cross-agency coordination and shared accountability, often through councils or task forces uniting K-12, postsecondary, and workforce systems.
- Linking goals to performance using transparent data and clear metrics. Tools like Indiana’s Graduates Prepared to Succeed (GPS) dashboard and Virginia’s Education and Workforce Alignment Dashboard are cited as examples of how data can support ongoing improvement.
- Aligning policy and practice through executive orders, legislation, budgets, or state plans. Initiatives such as California’s Golden State Pathways Act demonstrate how policy changes can help prepare students for success.
According to the NGA Center, “The models and examples highlighted in this playbook are intended to serve as a companion to the Let’s Get ReadyRoadmap, particularly the college and career readiness portion, developed by Governor Jared Polis of Colorado while serving as the Chairman of the National Governors Association. By focusing on both policy and practice, Governors can ensure students have access to pathways that are rigorous, relevant, and responsive to a dynamic and changing workforce.”
The release comes at a time when states are adjusting funding priorities in response to new federal opportunities. More than 30 governors highlighted career and technical education (CTE) and workforce development as key issues in their 2025 State of the State addresses. This reflects broad agreement among state leaders that strong links between education systems and job opportunities are important for economic competitiveness.
“The Governors Playbook: Future Ready Pathways reflects the NGA Center’s commitment to supporting governors as they lead transformative work at the intersection of education, workforce, and economic development. By adopting forward-looking strategies, governors can expand opportunities for all learners, respond to evolving labor market needs, and ensure their states remain competitive in a rapidly changing economy. In partnership with All4Ed, the NGA Center is pleased to provide this resource as part of a broader effort to build future-ready states—where every student has the tools, supports, and opportunities to succeed,” according to the NGA Center.
For more information about these efforts or additional resources related to state policy on postsecondary transitions or best practices in aligning education with industry needs, interested parties can visit All4Ed's State Policy Center or explore resources from the NGA Center's Postsecondary sites.