There’s nothing like nearly winning to wake people up.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed budget is being presented Wednesday morning to state lawmakers in Lansing.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer will deliver her budget proposal on Wednesday (Feb. 9). Local 4 learned it will include more than $2 billion for an educator incentive program.

The list of 2021 National Blue Ribbon schools have been released, and it includes 13 from Michigan.

The state assessment results come after a year and a half of disrupted learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

State superintendent Dr. Michael Rice called on the state Legislature to extend the school year Tuesday for students to make up for the lost time. “This school year, in and of itself, can’t even last five minutes longer,” said Paula Herbart, the president of the Michigan Education Association. Students need a break.”It’s undeniable that the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years have exhausted teachers. The battle over whether high school winter sports should resume amid the coronavirus pandemic continues in Michigan. The state also reports “active cases,” which were listed at 66,000 on Tuesday -- near the lowest it’s been since November.

It could happen, teacher representatives sayDETROIT – The battle to provide education for all during the COVID-19 pandemic continues to become more and more complicated. State superintendent Dr. Michael Rice called on the state Legislature to extend the school year Tuesday for students to make up for the lost time. Students need a break.”Click here to read more. 4 Fast FactsBe InformedOxford-AstraZeneca vaccine appears to reduce coronavirus spreadResults from the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine trial show that the vaccine may actually help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in addition to effectively preventing infection. Recent findings from the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID vaccine trial imply that the vaccine might be effective at reducing coronavirus transmission.

LANSING, Mich. – The battle to provide education for all during the COVID-19 pandemic continues to become more and more complicated. READ: Return To SchoolState superintendent Dr. Michael Rice called on the state Legislature to extend the school year Tuesday for students to make up for the lost time. “This school year, in and of itself, can’t even last five minutes longer,” said Paula Herbart, the president of the Michigan Education Association. Students need a break.”It’s undeniable that the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years have exhausted teachers. Detroit Public Schools Community District superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti said he can’t realistically extend the school year, but he can expand learning opportunities in every neighborhood.

A driver intentionally crashed a vehicle into the center median along eastbound I-696 near Dequindre Road, blocking traffic for several hours Wednesday morning, Michigan State Police said. A second vehicle struck that pole, police said, and then a third vehicle struck the initial vehicle that crashed. AdTestifying in front of a joint committee of the state Legislature, state superintendent Dr. Michael Rice advocated for increasing the number of required school days, which currently stands at 180 days. AP: The nation’s top infectious disease expert doesn’t want the Super Bowl to turn into a super spreader. The state also reports “active cases,” which were listed at 64,800 on Monday -- near the lowest it’s been since November.

LANSING, Mich. – Testifying in front of a joint committee of the state Legislature, state superintendent Dr. Michael Rice advocated for increasing the number of required school days, which currently stands at 180 days. We’re gonna have to make sure we extend the time for the purpose of competency and ensure our children are on the right level,” said Detroit school board member Sherry Gay-Dagnogo. Michigan health department launches program offering weekly COVID testing to educatorsThe Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) said it is moving forward with offering a voluntary COVID-19 testing program to educators. Officials said the MI Safe Schools Testing Program, which began Tuesday, will provide weekly tests for educators at private and public schools. Gretchen Whitmer pushed for schools to resume in-person learning by March 1.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan requested on Monday that standardized testing be waived for the 2020-2021 school year, after a school year marked with instruction inconsistency and difficulty due to the coronavirus pandemic. Last March, as virus cases grew and schools moved online, then-U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos allowed Michigan to waive standardized testing for the 2019-2020 school year. Near the end of her tenure, as waivers were being requested again, she told chief state school officers in a letter that standardized testing is expected for the 2020-2021 school year. The Michigan Education Association, which represents about 120,000 teachers and other education professionals, supports waiving standardized testing. “Amidst this pandemic, we simply cannot waste valuable learning time on high-stakes standardized testing," Herbart said.

Michigan officials are alarmed by the possible upcoming changes to the school lunch program that has provided food for children during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Changes to the program are raising alarm bells for some Michigan officials. Sen. Debbie Stabenow said the U.S. Department of Agriculture did a fantastic job last spring by getting food to needy children. This is going to have a very harmful effect on our children and families who are already struggling during the pandemic, Rice said. Stabenow said she hopes the changes arent linked to President Donald Trumps desire to send children back to the classroom.

Oak Park School District teacher Owen Bondono has been named the 2020-2021 Michigan Teacher of the Year (MTOY). The Michigan Department of Education said Friday Bondono learned he was named Teacher of the Year during a virtual conference call meeting with all Regional Teachers of the Year. Bondono will be entering his sixth year of teaching English language arts in the fall at Oak Park High School 9th Grade Learning Community. State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice said the Michigan Teacher of the Year program is more than finding the best teacher, as that would be an impossible task. The Michigan Teacher of the Year is an important advocate and ally for teachers and students, Dr. Rice said.

DETROIT - Results for the Spring 2019 Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) and Michigan Merit Exam (MME) were released today by the Michigan Department of Education. Key findings:Third and fourth-grade English language arts scores on the 2019 Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) showed modest gains for the second straight year. English language arts (ELA) scores by Michigan sixth-graders also increased, as did math scores for third, fifth, and sixth-grade students. We appreciate the gains made this year in our early grades, said State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice. Year-to-year comparisons of state assessment results can be problematic, explained Keesler.