The only organization dedicated solely to helping state boards advance equity and excellence in public education.

Valerie Norville


Valerie Norville, editorial director, manages NASBE publications, including its reports and The State Education Standard. Norville commissions authors, edits, manages design and production, and coordinates on NASBE outreach efforts.  She is an editor and publishing manager with 30 years’ experience producing content that makes cutting-edge research and technical expertise accessible to policy audiences.  Previously, she was director of publications for the US Institute of Peace, where she produced reports and books and launched its eBook program.  Before that, she was director of publications and web development at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. She received bachelor’s degrees in journalism and political science at the University of Missouri-Columbia and her master’s from George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs.


Latest Contributions

Four pupils go hand in hand. Vector illustration, sketch

With New Diploma, Indiana Takes Step toward Remaking High School

By Valerie Norville

As part of Indiana's high school transformation efforts, the state has adopted a new diploma framework with seals tied to college, career, or military pathways, offering students more flexibility and clearer outcomes.



Steps of education leading to success. Taking strategic steps towards graduation. Career path. Graduation achievement and educational goals.

Kentucky’s Homegrown Approach to Rethinking High Schools

By Valerie Norville

Kentucky is using community-driven portraits of a learner to guide high school redesign, focusing on local flexibility, more relevant assessments, and vibrant learning.



New State Strategic Plans Zero In on Learning Recovery

By Valerie Norville and Joseph Hedger

This NASBE analysis looks at 49 state strategic plans and finds many target learning recovery and other pandemic-related education issues.




Diverse group of high school of college graduates smiling during the graduation ceremony. They are standing in a row. Image Credit: iStock

States Sketch ‘Portraits of a Graduate’

By Valerie Norville

While their entry points and approaches to the work differ, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, and Washington have all drawn up profiles that many call the North Star of their state education systems.



Image Credit: iStock

Promoting School Nurses as Leaders in Reopening Schools

By Valerie Norville

This analysis describes how state boards of education and other state stakeholders can partner with school nurses and state school nurse leaders in forming guidance and making decisions about transitions back to school.