Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) issued an executive order Wednesday that reorganizes the Michigan Department of Education and forms a new agency dedicated entirely to "lifelong learning."

The newly established Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential will work with the Michigan Department of Education and state Board of Education and is charged with facilitating access to various programs, including child care, after-school programming, and "affordable education" for adults.

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“For too long, we have thought of education as K-12, but we know that’s not good enough," Whitmer said in a statement. "I’m establishing MiLEAP today because we need to get every kid started early, in pre-K, so they succeed in kindergarten, have paths after graduation to get higher education tuition-free, and forge strong partnerships with our employers so they can get a good-paying, high-skill, and in-demand job. MiLEAP will help our learning ecosystem take the jump to the next level as we grow our economy and build a brighter future for Michigan.”

The new department will be led by a Cabinet-level director who will be appointed by the governor and will be comprised of three offices: the Office of Early Childhood Education, the Office of Higher Education, and the Office of Education Partnerships.

The Michigan Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, endorsed the plan, with MEA President-elect Chandra Madafferi praising Whitmer's "continued commitment to creating opportunities for every student, regardless of their ZIP code, age or income level."

“Education is a lifelong pursuit, and it’s important that we provide the scaffolding needed to assist students and parents every step along the way," Madafferi said. "MiLEAP will help create stronger pathways to success for students from preschool through higher education and help them realize their full potential.”

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Republicans in the state, meanwhile, criticized Whitmer for expanding bureaucracy instead of focusing on student outcomes.

"Call me old fashioned, but maybe we should focus more on kids learning to read and promoting education accountability, rather than expanding the bloated bureaucracy," Republican state Sen. Aric Nesbitt tweeted.