LOUISVILLE, Ky. — All Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) teachers will receive a 5% pay increase as part of a new contract extension agreement. The Jefferson County Board of Education unanimously approved the deal. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Jefferson County Board of Education approved a new contract extension for Jefferson County teachers

  • All teachers will get a 5% pay raise

  • The salary increase goes into effect in the 2023-2024 calendar year

  • The contract also includes a stipend for those who are teaching in new Choice Zone and AIS schools  

“We know how challenging the teaching profession has been the past few years, and will continue to be with the increasing shortage of educators,” said JCPS superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio. “We believe this agreement is proof that JCPS wants our teaching professionals to not only be the best compensated in Kentucky, but also feel the most valued.”

The salary increase goes into effect in the 2023-2024 calendar year. The contract extension also allows for the ability to negotiate additional pay raises for the following two years. Teachers in new Choice Zone and AIS schools will also receive an $8,000 stipend. The average annual salary for teachers will now be almost $73,000.

The new deal will also give teachers more flexibility and help teachers recruit and keep teachers.

  • Teachers will now be able to use sick days in half-day increments

  • Make up any lost planning time outside of the workday

  • Sets up a new Teaching, Learning and Assessment Collaborative (TLAC) group with 50% of the members appointed by the Jefferson County Teachers Association and 50% by JCPS

  • Creates new Collaborative Leadership Teams (CLTs) at each school to discuss issues, challenges and opportunities brought up by the school’s staff

The extension also provides teacher protections against hate speech which “could result in immediate termination”.

“JCTA is proud of this agreement because we know the 5% raise will help attract teachers to fill many vacancies across the district with great teachers that our students deserve,” said Brent McKim, president of JCTA. “Most teachers receive an annual ‘step increase’ so they will see their pay rise by a total of about 7 1/2% next year.”

Pollio noted that the 5% raise is the largest in over 20 years and comes on top of a 4% salary boost that teachers and JCPS employees received this year.

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