State Government Resources

Education is the largest budget item for the 50 state and 5 territorial and commonwealth governments within the United States. Governments at this level exercise some of the powers wielded by centralized ministries in other countries. While reciprocity exists to some extent, state powers tend to be confined to their territorial jurisdictions save where formal arrangements or federal law provide bridging mechanisms.

State Web Sites

All U.S. states and territories maintain web sites providing extensive information and links.

State and Local Government on the Net provides a topical directory of state web pages organized by state and territory.

Global Computing's U.S. States Map provides a clickable map linking directly to states' main home pages.

State Legislatures

The National Governor's Association (NGA) is the national association for elected governors of states, and provides links to the offices of state governors and to governor's advisors and commissions, including those concerned with education.

State Government Agencies

The Council of State Governments (CSG) is the national association for state executives and agencies, and provides links to the various offices and agencies of state governments and state judiciaries.

Guide to State and Local Government on the Net is a privately maintained Web directory of state government links, including all branches of government and independent boards and commissions.

State Education Policies

The Educational Commission of the States (ECS) is a policy leadership forum and advisory organization serving state governors, legislators, and education agency heads. The site provides news and information about current education issues of concern to state policymakers.

Regional Cooperation

Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) coordinates policies, academic exchanges, and policy research among 15 states stretching from the Middle Atlantic to the Southwest.

Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education (WICHE) conducts conducts policy studies and coordinates cooperative projects among the states of the Rocky Mountain, Northwest, and Southwest areas.