LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Since its origin in July, the Michigan Department Of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) created by Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been met with mixed reactions from government officials. 

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In the latest round of criticisms, Representative Alicia St. Germain (R-Harrison Township) has spoken out against the program for adding “a new layer of bureaucracy within Michigan’s education system.”  She considers the program an unnecessary expansion of a broken system that does nothing to improve the education of Michigan children.

Until last week, the Michigan State Board of Education (SBE) was counted as a likely partner to the new department, but has recently begun questioning MiLEAP’s constitutionality.  Last week the SBE directed the State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice to request a Michigan attorney general’s opinion to provide constitutional clarity on the creation of the new MiLEAP. 

One of the state purposes of the department that was created by Gov. Whitmer in July under (E.O. 2023-6) was to build “an education system from preschool through postsecondary that can support our kids, families, and the economy of the future by ensuring anyone can make it in Michigan.” 

The SBE voted to approve a motion by 8-0 to investigate the constitutionality of the department, in part because it sees the new department’s responsibilities as overlapping redundant to its own. 

“There appears now to be potentially two departments with overlapping authority over “all public education,” particularly preschool public education,” according to the SBE. 

Representative Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia) recently supported the SBE’s call for an investigation. 

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“The only thing this new department does different is give the governor more control. I applaud state board members for pushing back against that and I join their calls for Attorney General Nessel to promptly review both the constitutionality of MiLEAP and its proposed agenda,” Representative Rigas said. “I agree that we need to improve our education policies in this state, but we could do so much simpler and cheaper if the governor’s ego would get out of the way.”

According to Rep. St. Germaine, the program is an extension of the Governor’s own agenda. 

“At a time when we should be working collectively to address the education crisis brewing in our state, the governor has chosen to act unilaterally and push her own plan,” St. Germaine said. “Adding more bureaucrats and new layers to our education system without fixing the problems that already exist is not going to help our kids. Shifting billions of dollars away from classrooms to fund unnecessary projects for politically connected districts won’t teach kids to read and write. This runaway train needs to be stopped.”

The Michigan Education Association (MEA), President-elect Chandra Madafferi voiced her support for the creation of the new department.  The MEA is a self-governing education association representing 120,000 teachers throughout the state. 

“We are thrilled by Gov. Whitmer’s MiLEAP announcement and her administration’s continued commitment to creating opportunities for every student, regardless of their ZIP code, age or income level,” said Madafferi, a longtime teacher from Oakland County. “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. MiLEAP will help create stronger pathways to success for students from preschool through higher education and help them realize their full potential.”

See here for a copy of the full executive order for the creation of MiLEAP.