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. To support this work, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center), in partnership with All4Ed, has developed a new resource – the Governors Playbook: Future Ready Pathways. This playbook was developed to provide Governors and their advisors with concrete strategies to align education and talent development systems, expand career-connected learning, and meet the evolving needs of state economies.
The models and examples highlighted in this playbook are intended to serve as a companion to the Let’s Get Ready Roadmap, 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.
A Framework for Action
The playbook outlines four key steps governors can take to strengthen education-to-workforce systems:
- Establish a Unified Vision – Governors can set a shared agenda that brings together state leaders, educators, employers, and community partners. Whether through statewide initiatives like Rhode Island’s PrepareRI or Oklahoma’s Human Potential for Future Industries Task Force, a clear vision ensures collaboration around preparing students for success.
- Create a Management Structure – Sustainable progress requires cross-agency coordination and shared accountability. Governors have led the way in forming councils, offices, and task forces that unite K-12, postsecondary, and workforce systems around a common mission.
- Link Goals to Performance – Transparent data and clear metrics allow states to measure progress and celebrate success. Innovative tools, such as Indiana’s Graduates Prepared to Succeed (GPS) dashboard and Virginia’s Education and Workforce Alignment Dashboard, demonstrate how data can drive continuous improvement.
- Align Policy and Practice – Governors can utilize executive orders, legislation, budgets, and state plans to align day-to-day practices with long-term workforce and education goals. Initiatives like California’s Golden State Pathways Act and efforts across states to expand skills-based hiring exemplify how policy can support student success.
Meeting the Moment
The playbook arrives at a critical time. With recent changes in state and federal funding opportunities, Governors are uniquely positioned to ensure investments in education and training align with high-skill, high-wage, in-demand careers. As highlighted in Governors’ 2025 State of the State addresses, more than 30 Governors emphasized career and technical education (CTE) and workforce development as top priorities. This momentum underscores a shared recognition that strong pathways from education to the workforce are essential for state competitiveness and individual prosperity.
A Path Forward
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.
For more information and additional resources, visit All4Ed’s State Policy Center and the NGA Center’s Postsecondary sites.