National Conference of State Legislatures

The National Conference of State Legislatures, a bipartisan organization serving state legislators and their staffs, provides research, technical assistance, and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing issues. Most states will require legislation and policy changes to fully implement the Common Core State Standards and thereby advance deeper learning. To help this process, the organization will lead national and state workshops and discussions; provide informational materials, updates, and legislative analyses; and develop a road map to help lawmakers understand the timing and choices necessary for Common Core implementation. Through this work, legislators will gain knowledge and capacity concerning college- and career-readiness—including deeper learning skills—and the importance of the Common Core and related student assessments.

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the nation's 50 states and its commonwealths and territories, providing research, technical assistance, and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues; it advocates for the interests of state governments before Congress and federal agencies. The goals of the grant are to build momentum and capacity for major education reform among state legislators--including timely issues such as the common core state standards movement, reallocation of resources for better student outcomes, and the potential for deeper learning skills and knowledge to improve college- and career-readiness. NCSL anticipates engaging legislators and their staff in high-quality discussions about educational improvement, disseminating specific policy strategies that are innovative and effective, and providing opportunities for legislators to share strategies that work for building political coalitions and public support for reform. These activities will be essential to supporting state legislative capacity as the current wave of education reforms moves from the national and federal levels to the states for policy reform, implementation, and funding.