As the state awaits word on whether legislative adjustments to education funding find favor with the Kansas Supreme Court, the Kansas chapter of the National Education Association is urging school districts to increase teacher salaries.
The NEA says Kansas dipped from 40th to 41st nationally in average teacher salary from the 2016 to 2017 academic years, now standing at $49,800. It also says other neighboring states, including Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma, have made additional investments in teacher salaries this decade and all now offer over $50,000 to teachers on average.
Lawmakers approved an inflation adjustment to education funding early this year in an effort to meet mandates on adequacy and equity, and the Kansas Supreme Court has said it plans a ruling by the end of this month. Even with that ruling pending, KNEA says funding certainty is in hand and “our educators deserve to be compensated for their dedication to our students and the profession.”
