Lack of funding, ‘woke’ ideologies: Education is key issue in Kentucky governor’s election

Education has been a key and often controversial issue in the gubernatorial race between incumbent Andy Beshear, a Democrat, and Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron.

As advertising wars have broached culture topics like “woke” ideology in schools, educators, parents and students have become more interested in candidates’ plans for schooling over the next four years.

The Herald-Leader asked the candidates about the issue. These are their answers in their own words:

Q: What steps should the state take to recruit teachers and ensure sustainable school funding?

Beshear: We can’t stay number two in per capita economic development if we’re number 44 in teacher pay. With the record budget surpluses we’ve seen, we can afford to give our educators a big raise, and it is past time to do so if we want to recruit the best and the brightest to come to Kentucky.

That’s why I’ve proposed an 11% raise for our educators along with fully funding universal pre-K and giving our schools the resources they need for textbooks and instructional materials. We have the money to invest in our teachers and our public schools, and with our education systems serving as some of our largest employers in so many of our counties, when we raise wages for teachers and put our budget surplus back into our schools, we’re investing in communities across Kentucky.

Cameron: As the husband of a public school teacher, and a product of great public schools, I know how important education is to Kentucky.

Right now, our teachers are dealing with learning loss and mental health challenges caused by Andy Beshear’s shortsighted decision to lock down our schools. Teachers are working tirelessly to address these challenges, but need support from the top. Unfortunately, this governor is unable or unwilling to provide it.

The Cameron Catch-Up Plan addresses this learning loss by making the largest investment ever in reading and math instruction and surging resources to teachers and classrooms. It includes establishing the first-ever statewide base starting pay for new teachers at $41,500, which will have a ripple effect on the pay scale for all other teachers.

We also must restore classroom discipline and reduce the bureaucratic load that overly burdens our teachers and takes them away from educating our children.

As Governor, how has Beshear handled education?

Beshear has repeatedly asked for raises for teachers and other school employees, but the General Assembly hasn’t approved his requests.

In August 2023, when he proposed an 11% raise, Beshear said the biggest difference between his latest budget proposal and the General Assembly’s enacted budget was the lack of funding for education.

Teachers and other school employees played a role in Beshear’s 2019 win over former Republican Gov. Matt Bevin.

In August, Eddie Campbell, president of the Kentucky Education Association, an educators group, said in a statement that “Gov. Beshear understands that competitive salaries are just part of the solution.”

His plan also addresses issues that have left public schools understaffed and many state universities with a shortage of education majors, Campbell said.

Beshear’s proposals to fund teacher pensions, ensure health insurance premiums remain the same for all education employees, offer teacher student loan forgiveness, and provide meaningful professional development opportunities would assure future and current educators they are valued, said Campbell.

“He has consistently been a champion on behalf of the more than 600,000 public school students, 40,000 active teachers, and 50,000 school staff educators across the commonwealth,” the KEA statement said.

What are Cameron’s positions on education?

In a TV ad, Cameron’s campaign said Kentucky schools have declined since Beshear shut down classrooms in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cameron was critical of Kentucky Education Commissioner Jason Glass, who left his job and the state recently because he didn’t want to enforce what he called a dangerous and unconstitutional Senate Bill 150 that critics say is harmful to LGBTQ minors.

“Candidates for Kentucky’s Education Commissioner must take a clear stand,” Cameron said in an August statement. “Do they agree that Andy Beshear’s school shutdowns inflicted an unprecedented learning catastrophe on a generation? And will they condemn Jason Glass’s comments that teachers concerned about radical ideology should just find another job?

“As Governor, I will appoint members to the Board of Education who are committed to getting our kids caught up from the generational learning loss inflicted on them by Andy Beshear.”

Cameron said he will stop the Kentucky Department of Education from promoting any curriculum or policy that encourages teaching woke ideologies in the K-12 public-education system.

He said he will propose legislation that raises the starting-pay for teachers and ensures that no teacher’s salary is below the new starting-pay benchmark. He said he will propose a bill giving a stipend to every teacher in Kentucky to help offset the personal expenses they incur purchasing school supplies. Cameron said he will reduce bureaucracy and burdensome paperwork for teachers.

This story was originally published October 25, 2023 at 6:00 AM.