Leveraging Transition - Ten Ways for New Governors to Advance Education Policies and Priorities from Day One - WHITE PAPER

Oct 15, 2026

A guidance white paper for newly elected governors outlining how to use the transition period—from election through inauguration and the first 100 days—to advance state education policies and priorities. It explains the state’s role in education through expectations, innovation support, funding for equity, research systems, and continuous improvement. It maps two overlapping transition phases, reviews the current education landscape and emerging policy priorities, and introduces ten action opportunities to improve education opportunities and outcomes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

I. Introduction

II. Background: The State Role in Education and the Importance of Transition

III. The Education Landscape and Emerging Policy Priorities Across the States

IV. Hitting the Ground Running: Ten Opportunities for Action in Gubernatorial Transition

Leveraging Transition: Ten Ways for New Governors to Advance Education Policies and Priorities from Day One WHITE PAPER TEN WAYS TO ADVANCE EDUCATION POLICIES + PRIORITIES FROM DAY ONE I. Introduction The 2018 election cycle resulted in new governors in 20 states and two territories. The large class of new governors will have further ripple effects as new governors in many states appoint new chief state school officers, state board of education members and other state education leaders. Starting the day after the election, each new governor embarks on a transition process that starts with the election, leads to inauguration and extends through the first 100 days and beyond. This period presents significant opportunities for new governors to advance their education policies and priorities. The purpose of this memo is to provide initial assistance to new governors and their education teams on how to think about this critical transition period in each state, how to best advance their education priorities and how the National Governors Association (NGA) and its partners can best support their efforts. We recognize that each state’s context is different, but we hope that this guidance can provide a framework that helps each new governor work together with other state education leaders to maximize her/his impact on education policy in their states. II. Background: The State Role in Education and the Importance of Transition Providing access to a high-quality education is a critical state responsibility. State education leadership and policy can support great teaching and learning in numerous important ways, spanning the spectrum of education from early learning through higher education. These include but are not limited to setting statewide expectations and requirements, incentivizing and removing barriers to innovation, providing funding and support to improve equity and implementation, building systems for research and encouraging continuous improvement. While each state’s context and governance structures are different, every governor has a unique, leading role to play in improving education opportunity and outcomes in his/her state. Each new governor’s transition period provides a critical window of opportunity to lead on education by establishing clear successful priorities and strong leadership teams that can articulate and accelerate new priorities and establish a solid foundation for success throughout a new governor’s term in office. It is helpful to think of this transition period as composed of two overlapping phases, shown in the graphic on the following page: Phase 1: The first phase runs roughly from election to inauguration and involves in part a small transition team with multiple responsibilities (as described below), including conducting due diligence, engaging stakeholders, identifying appointees and transforming campaign positions into policy priorities. Phase 2: The second phase runs roughly from inauguration through the proverbial “first 100 days”in office, which in most states will include each governor’s first state-of-the-state address, first budget proposals, first legislative sessions and first legislative and regulatory actions. TEN WAYS TO ADVANCE EDUCATION POLICIES + PRIORITIES FROM DAY ONE III. The Education Landscape and Emerging Policy Priorities Across the States We are at a critical moment of change in education. We know more than ever about the key ingredients necessary to create education systems that support each and every child (and their families) in achieving their full potential. Despite some important progress, our education system needs to be continuously improved to address the realities of our ever-changing economy and society. In particular, significant, systemic, long-standing gaps in education opportunity and outcomes persist, including by poverty, race, ethnicity, gender, English proficiency, and disability. Addressing these inequities is particularly ur

FAQs

What is the purpose of the memo for new governors?

It provides initial assistance to new governors and their education teams on how to think about the education transition period, advance education priorities, and how the National Governors Association and partners can support those efforts.

How are the governor transition phases described?

The document describes two overlapping phases: election-to-inauguration with a transition team and due diligence, and inauguration-to-the first 100 days covering early addresses, budgets, legislative sessions, and initial actions.

What education priorities does the paper highlight as emerging across states?

It highlights areas such as workforce education (including computer science), early education (Pre-K, full-day kindergarten, childcare), K-12 funding systems, recruiting and retaining teachers, and higher education access and affordability.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Alex Sinclair