Beshear has pushed for teacher pay raises four separate times, ahead of every legislative budget session during his time as Governor
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 5, 2026) – On World Teachers’ Day, Gov. Andy Beshear highlighted Team Kentucky’s support of educators, students and public schools. The Governor has proposed raises for teachers four separate times, as part of each one of his official budget proposals. Unfortunately, the Kentucky General Assembly has consistently failed to adopt pay increases for educators. Gov. Beshear has also sued the Trump Administration to unfreeze education funding, pushed for Pre-K for All, fought to ensure that public funding goes to public schools, secured funding for career and technical education centers and waived the GED testing fee.
“Being a teacher is one of the most important jobs in the world. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my teachers – and now, as a dad, I’m seeing that impact all over again as I watch my two kids make their way through school,” said Gov. Beshear. “The Lieutenant Governor and I know that education is how we break generational cycles of poverty and create lasting change for our families. That’s why we’ve built an education-first administration that supports our educators and school staff.”
“As an educator, I know what goes into our teachers’ daily work. They show up for their students, and their impact stretches far beyond academics and the four walls of their classroom,” said Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman. “We will never stop supporting public education, and we will never stop standing up for our teachers. Because education is the key to a brighter future, and our teachers are the ones helping our kids unlock it.”
The Governor and Lieutenant Governor have led an education-first administration, investing in public schools, educators and students.
Gov. Beshear pushed for educator raises in his 2020-2022, 2022-2024, 2024-2026 and 2026-2028 budget proposals.
In 2025, Gov. Beshear joined leaders from 23 other states and the District of Columbia to challenge the Trump Administration over its unlawful decision to freeze $6.8 billion in education funding appropriated by Congress through the U.S. Department of Education (ED). A week after the coalition sued, the ED began releasing the promised funds and had released all of Kentucky’s funds by the following week.
Gov. Beshear has also consistently advocated Pre-K for All in his budget proposals, but the General Assembly has refused to implement the program, which would provide pre-K for every Kentucky 4-year-old. In 2026, the Governor took executive action. He announced the launch of the Pre-K Pilot Program in the Dawson Springs Independent School District, Franklin County Schools, Glasgow Independent Schools and Robertson and Rockcastle counties. Combined with the Team Kentucky Early Learning Center, also announced by the Beshear-Coleman administration, Team Kentucky has increased childcare and early education access for nearly 3,000 children across the commonwealth – in just one year.
The Governor has repeatedly opposed harmful legislation targeting Kentucky’s public schools, including vetoing this year’s House Bill 1, which attempted to use a federal tax credit to divert public funding to private schools. The Governor stated that “public funding is for public schools.”
In his first term, Gov. Beshear waived the GED testing fee. Since then, more Kentuckians without a high school diploma are earning their GED, with a success rate that surpasses the national rate. Team Kentucky also took GED testing on the road to reach areas across the commonwealth without access to brick-and-mortar adult education centers. The Governor also implemented free ACT retakes for Kentucky public school students.
In 2021, the Governor’s Better Kentucky Program awarded $127 million to fund much-needed school construction projects. Team Kentucky has also invested nearly $300 million to renovate and rebuild career and technical centers in high schools across the commonwealth.
Gov. Beshear and First Lady Britainy Beshear celebrated expansion of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to all 120 Kentucky counties, meaning every child in Kentucky can receive a free book in the mail each month from birth to age 5.
The Governor has signed legislation to:
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