As lieutenant governor, John Cherry was elected chairman of the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) in July 2006. John Cherry also chaired the Lt. Governor’s Commission on Higher Education & Economic Growth, with the commission making recommendations on higher education and the need to expand Michigan's job base. The Cherry Commission report led to the "Michigan Promise" scholarship, the "No Worker Left Behind" program, and Michigan replacing the high school MEAP exam with the ACT. Michigan also increased standards in the K-12 curriculum and graduation requirements consistent with the Commission's recommendations.