Education investment and teacher pay
One in three Kentucky school districts provided no raise for teachers and other certified employees this school year, according to a Kentucky Department of Education report highlighted by the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. The Chamber also lists investing in education as a 2026 priority amid ongoing workforce and community concerns.
What should Kentucky do about teacher pay and education investment?
How important is this to you?
✓ You told us where you stand
Sources
Kentucky Center for Economic Policy — https://kypolicy.org
One in three school districts (58 of the state’s 171) provided no raise for teachers and other certified employees this school year, according to an annual report released by the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE).
Kentucky Chamber — https://www.kychamber.com/opportunity-starts-here-2026-legislative-priorities
continuing tax reform, investing in education, prioritizing infrastructure
Positions on this issue · liberal → conservative
- Mandate large statewide teacher raises funded by higher taxes on high earners
- Increase state education funding specifically to boost teacher salaries
- Allow local districts flexibility with modest state support for pay
- Keep pay decisions local and avoid new statewide spending mandates
- Reduce education bureaucracy and tie any raises strictly to performance