Gov. Beshear Proposes Largest Pay Increase for Teachers in 40 Years, Fully Funds Pre-K
Press Release
"We must invest more in public education. Our teachers are not paid what they are worth, and every child deserves a chance at true prosperity.
With a record budget surplus, the largest Rainy Day Fund in state history and good economic conditions, we must keep Kentucky competitive by investing in our schools, teachers and students."
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"It is simple, you cannot catch a kid up on math if they don't have a math teacher. And we cannot remain competitive with other states if we don't pay our teachers what they are worth."
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"Early childhood education is proven to make sure children have long-term academic success, and funding it is the No. 1 most effective thing we can do to get people back to work. Others know this, and more and more states and cities, like Cincinnati, are investing in pre-K. They are helping their students succeed while supporting new mothers and fathers to help them get back into the workforce much sooner."
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"We are seeing transportation issues. First, the General Assembly is not fully funding it, and second, we are not paying bus drivers enough. If you want to solve transportation issues, then we need to pay bus drivers enough."
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"We are going to hold down their health insurance costs with no increases. This will be the fourth straight year that these employees will have no insurance premium increase."
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"We require professional development; we must fund it. And it is through these programs that our educators learn the newest techniques to address learning loss and secure better outcomes."
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"This is basic. Our children cannot learn if they don't have the resources to do so."
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"These are amazing programs, and that is why we've now invested about $245 million over two budgets to renovate and rebuild career and technical centers in high schools all over the state. This continued investment is necessary to keep building a world-class education system to keep up with the world-class companies that are betting their future on our workers."
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