In 1974, three organizations represented the interests of legislators and staff, but their influence was diluted. So seven inventive legislative leaders and two staffers got together and envisioned a single national organization to support, defend and strengthen state legislatures. After a survey of lawmakers and staff from around the country confirmed their idea was a good one, the three organizations dissolved, and on Jan. 1, 1975, the National Conference of State Legislatures was born.

Education:

http://www.ncsl.org/research/education.aspx

Performance-based funding for higher education:

http://www.ncsl.org/research/education/performance-funding.aspx

Free Community College:

http://www.ncsl.org/research/education/free-community-college.aspx

President Obama has proposed making two years of community college free. The “America’s College Promise” program would create a federal-state partnership with federal funding covering three-quarters of the average community college tuition, and states covering the rest.