Postsecondary Education

Postsecondary education is more important to states than ever before. Within the next decade, nearly two-thirds of the jobs in the U.S. will require some form of college credential. To meet that demand, states must lead efforts to graduate more students from high-quality certificate and degree programs with the resources available.

The NGA Center’s Postsecondary team supports the development and implementation of strategies that activate state policy levers and leverage state resources for educational attainment and career development after high school. This includes short-term/industry credentials, apprenticeship pathways, degree completion efforts, skills-based training, and modernizing state data systems to meet the needs of evolving industry sectors. The team works to create and execute state-focused, high-quality technical assistance and peer learning opportunities to support Governors’ offices in maximizing the impact and effectiveness of their current postsecondary systems while exploring opportunities for innovation.

Meet the team

Portia Pratt, Senior Policy Analyst
Grace Burns, Policy Coordinator

NGA Resources

Building the Skills Infrastructure States Need

How NGA and AIR Are Advancing Skills-Based Practices in the Public Sector Across the country, governors and other state leaders are rethinking how they attract, hire, and retain talent. Since ...

Briefing on Credentialing and Skills Training

The NGA Center and National Skills Coalition hosted a briefing on January 20, 2026 on credentialing and skills training. NSC shared findings from two new studies: one from small and ...

2025 In Education

Education is one of the largest elements of Governors’ budgets, and as an organization dedicated to supporting Governors’ work, it should come as no surprise that education was a strong ...

Supporting Workforce Pell Implementation: A Readiness Academy Open to All States and Territories

The recent expansion of federal Pell Grant eligibility to include high-quality, short-term workforce programs represents a significant opportunity for states and territories to strengthen their education-to-employment pipelines, support working learners ...

EV Workforce Myth-Busting

(Download) By 2028, U.S. electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers are projected to produce approximately 4.7 million EVs annually. This growth will fuel demand for charging stations, infrastructure, batteries, supply chain operations ...

Charting Future-Ready Pathways: Governors’ Playbook for Strengthening Education and Industry Alignment

America’s Governors play a vital role in shaping the education-to-workforce pipeline, ensuring every student is prepared not only for college but also for the jobs and careers of the future ...

Utilizing Data to Evaluate Skills-Based Practices and Non-Degree Credentials: NGA’s Intersectional Policy Lab

On August 27-29, the NGA Center’s Postsecondary team brought together two project cohorts—the Data and Non-Degree Credentials Learning Community and the Skills in the States Community of Practice—in Minneapolis. The ...

Secretary McMahon Meets with Governors

Education Secretary Participates in Discussion on “Let’s Get Ready!” Initiative Colorado Springs – Education Secretary Linda McMahon attended the National Governors Association (NGA) Summer Meeting in Colorado Springs, joining NGA ...

Empowerment Through Adult Literacy: Policy Pathways for Governors

Adult literacy programs and partnerships provide foundational skills that lead to increased employment opportunities, improved physical and mental health outcomes, and financial stability for families and communities. The National Governors ...

Governors Prioritizing Postsecondary Strategies: Multiple Pathways Highlighted in 2025 State and Territory Addresses

Governors across the country made clear that postsecondary education remains central to their policy agendas in their 2025 State and Territory addresses—including State of the State, Inaugural, and Budget speeches ...

Driving Public Sector Innovation Through Skills-Based Hiring

State governments across the nation are leading a transformation in talent management, shifting toward a more skills-focused approach, which prioritizes a candidate’s skills, competencies, and relevant work experience over traditional ...

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 and territories in advancing their data infrastructure improvement projects. This ...

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Postsecondary Education

Meet the team

NGA Resources