How the GOP budget proposal would impact schools, teacher pay in Kentucky

Kentucky Republican lawmakers have introduced a budget proposal that increases the state's investment in public education but falls short of what teacher advocates were hoping to see, along with what the governor proposed for teacher salaries.

The GOP vision for the state's next budget was outlined in two bills that, if passed, would increase district budgets for the next two years but not mandate school employee raises — a fact that could further trouble the state's teacher shortage, along with the academic outcomes of students.

The proposal calls for an increase of 4% to the state's per pupil funding in the next year and 2% in the following year - which would amount to $281 million over the next two fiscal years.

The budget would include language that strongly encourages school districts to use this increase toward raises - though even if all of it were put toward raises, it would bring the state's starting teacher salary to $40,291, which falls below Gov. Andy Beshear's proposal to raise the ceiling to $42,191.

Additionally, whether or not districts could put all of their additional revenue toward raises is up for debate.

"If that (6%) goes toward teacher raises, that’s not even enough to keep up with inflation, let alone make up for the 20% loss in pay over the last 15 years due to inflation," said Brent McKim, president of the Jefferson County Teachers' Association.

Recent reports from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy found that, when adjusted for inflation, the state's teachers are making less now than they did 16 years ago and per pupil funding from the state is significantly below 2008 levels.

The "modest" increases proposed in the GOP budget, one report said, does not keep up with inflation and will further diminish the state's investment in real dollars. Currently, according to the center, state per pupil funding is 26% below 2008 levels and if the proposed budget passes, it will be 30% below those levels in 2026.

Simultaneously, the state ranks 44th for its starting teacher salary ($38,010) and 40th for its average salary ($54,574), according to the National Education Association.

Meanwhile, Kentucky is short several hundreds of teachers, with districts across the state posting about 1,000 positions on the Kentucky Department of Education site since June 2023. Within Jefferson County Public Schools, there are 350 unfilled teacher positions.

This comes as test scores show Kentucky students continue to struggle in the aftermath of the pandemic, with less than half reaching proficiency in reading and math, according to the most recent test scores.

Studies show higher teacher salaries reduce turnover and can improve teacher quality, which can improve student performance.

Rep. Jason Petrie, a Republican from Elkton and chairman of the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee, introduced the bills outlining the budget. He argues the per pupil funding increase can be put toward raises, though.

"A representative of the Kentucky School Boards Association testified late last year that 90% of school districts across the state used the resources provided in the current budget to provide raises," Petrie wrote to The Courier Journal on Tuesday.

He said he believes districts "would make doing so a priority even if it requires looking at other areas of spending."

Districts across the state are currently introducing their budgets for the upcoming year - which will no longer include the significant federal funding provided amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which expires in September. This means many are already looking at all areas of spending to see how to move forward without that revenue.

Over the past three years, that funding has represented 12% of Kentucky's total education revenue.

Beshear's budget proposal, put forth Dec. 18, calls for an 11% salary increase for all public school employees. That money — an additional $545 million each year — would be included in the Support Education Excellence in Kentucky budget.

An 11% increase would bring the average salary to $60,577 - a rate that would surpass averages in Indiana ($54,596), Tennessee ($53,285) and West Virginia ($50,315).

More: What would Beshear's pay raise proposal mean for JCPS teachers?

Eddie Campbell, president of the Kentucky Education Association, said in a release that he hopes Republicans take more time to "create a budget that addresses the very real and urgent issue of educator compensation.”

Campbell pointed to recent raises approved by the legislature for other state employees and how those have improved retention.

"That same approach will certainly work for the people who serve students in every single community across the commonwealth," Campbell said. "Every Kentucky public school student deserves a fully resourced educational experience, which starts with a full complement of high-quality, dedicated professionals who make school possible."

Contact Krista Johnson at kjohnson3@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: School districts, teacher pay may be impacted by GOP budget plan