The typical Kentucky school district increased salaries for teachers and other certified employees by only 2% this year, and 40 districts provided no raise at all, according to an annual report released by the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE). In over 60% of districts increases were below inflation, which rose 2.9% for the year ending in August. And districts that provided no raise this year have substantially lower property wealth on average than those that provided raises of 4% or more. The report shows similar wage stagnation for classified employees like bus drivers and cafeteria workers.
This year’s data continues a long-term trend. State funding for public education has fallen far behind the cost of living since the Great Recession, and the 2024-2026 state budget did not reverse that trajectory. State disinvestment is the major cause of teacher salaries dropping 20% below inflation-adjusted 2008 levels as of last year. As a result, Kentucky ranks 42nd among states in average teacher pay, a decline from 41st the year before.
More than half of districts provided a raise of 2% or less or no raise
Of Kentucky’s 171 school districts, the majority provided either no raise to certified employees for the 2025-2026 school year or a raise of 2% or less. Forty-two districts provided a raise between 2.01% and 3%, and 34 districts gave raises of above 3%.1
The median district increased salaries by only 2%, which was also the most common increase chosen. KDE also reports that the average percentage increase for districts that did provide raises for certified employees was 2.85% while the average dollar raise was $1,693 (the equivalent of a 2.82% increase). Factoring in the 40 districts that provided no raises, that puts the average increase for all districts at 2.2%. Current employees typically also receive a small step raise as well depending on the salary schedule in their district.
Those districts that provided raises of 4% or greater have local property wealth (measured by per pupil assessment) that is 22% greater on average than those districts that provided no raise at all. This disparity is an example of how the erosion of state funding for schools grows the gap between wealthy and poor school districts, which has now reached levels declared unconstitutional in the 1980s.
Classified employees also mostly received small or no raises
As with teachers and other certified employees, many classified employees like bus drivers and cafeteria workers are also continuing to earn wages that do not keep up with the cost of living. KDE reports that the average percentage increase for districts that gave classified employee raises was 2.83%, and the average dollar amount increase was $1,502. But, like certified employees, 38 districts provided no raise at all. The median district increased classified employee salaries by only 2%.
It’s time for a reinvestment in the people who educate Kentucky kids
Years of erosion in state funding for public education have contributed to an educator shortage that can only be fully addressed through reinvestment. In addition, uncertainty about federal funding and the expiration of COVID-19 monies are tightening school budgets across the commonwealth. In the upcoming legislative session, the General Assembly will craft a new two-year budget that presents a new opportunity to address this challenge.
An increase in state funding to public schools of $718 million a year — equal to the cost of a half-point reduction in the state income tax, which lawmakers have passed three times in recent years — would allow an 8% average state-wide raise for educators. It would also improve job quality by permitting the hiring of 2,658 or 5% more teachers and certified staff to help reduce class sizes, expand mental health services, and more, along with providing additional funds to hire bus drivers, buy needed equipment and restore lost spending for technology, textbooks and professional development. By primarily channeling that funding through the Support Educational Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) formula, the poorest districts would disproportionately benefit.
Such an investment would go a long way in addressing this issue and communicating appreciation to the school employees who work hard to support Kentucky kids every day.
Photo by Allison Shelley for EDUimages
