Jared Polis of Colorado named chairman of the National Governors Association

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis was elected Friday to lead the National Governors Association, a bipartisan body of state and territorial leaders with 55 members.

For the past year, he served as vice chairman of the group, which serves as a policy workshop for the nation’s governors and their cabinets. In the new post, Polis will insist an initiative to help states build education systems that prepare students for the workforce and address economic needs such as skills mismatches and labor shortages.

“All Americans should have access to an education that prepares them for success in life,” Polis said in a statement announcing his presidency. “As the world changes and technology evolves, it is critical to America’s economic competitiveness to ensure that all students graduate with the skills and knowledge needed for success.

“Our initiative will explore how we can better evaluate the results of state investments in education, and help drive better outcomes for students at all stages of their educational journey.”