Governor Beshear is unveiling an education plan he wants the General Assembly to pass during next year’s regular session.
Beshear says his plan aims to address student learning loss brought on by the pandemic and years of denied pay raises for teachers.
The governor is asking lawmakers to provide funding for a 5% pay raise for school staff, universal pre-K and loan forgiveness for teachers.
He’s also asking for the General Assembly to consider restoring new teacher pensions.
Beshear — who is running for re-election — says the teacher shortage in Kentucky is the result of years of cutbacks that have left schools underfunded.
He says he’ll also ask lawmakers to restore professional development funding.
Education Commissioner Jason Glass says 72% of the teachers in the state are at-risk of leaving their job.