U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon announced the appointment of Arizona state Representative Michael Way to the National Assessment Governing Board on October 27, 2026.

Way, a Republican who represents Legislative District 15 in the Arizona House, will serve as a parent representative on the board. He is a father of four children as well as the Division President at Charter One, a management organization that supports charter, private, and district schools with operations, curriculum, and compliance.

The National Assessment Governing Board sets policies for the Nation's Report Card, formally known as the National Assessment of Educational Progress or NAEP. The 26-person board determines assessment subjects and grades, establishes achievement levels, and ensures results inform policymakers and the public.

Way was elected to the Arizona House in 2024 and currently serves as Vice Chair of the House Commerce Committee. He holds a Master of Science in Educational Assessment from the University of Oxford, as well as a Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration from the University of Wyoming and a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Arizona State University.

McMahon also reappointed Tennessee Representative Mark White as board chair and named other new members, including Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva and several educators. The appointments bring expertise from state education leadership, classroom teaching, and school management to the independent, nonpartisan body.

“There is nothing more important than ensuring the best educational standards and opportunities for each and every American family. As a father of four, this isn’t political, it is personal,“ Way told Real Truth Media in a statement.

”I’m grateful to Secretary McMahon for this appointment and for the trust she has placed in me. My priorities are straightforward: protect high standards, give parents the truth about how their children are doing, and fight for every family to have access to real opportunities. American parents deserve nothing less than the best the world has to offer.”

Way's lengthy background in fighting for educational freedom and working within charter school operations aligns with efforts to expand educational options and parental involvement in schooling decisions. His service on the board will contribute to oversight of the only nationally representative assessment tracking student performance over time.

New members are expected to be sworn in at the Governing Board's quarterly meeting in November. Way’s term will last through September of 2029.