School Choice and Competition Lead to Higher Teacher Pay

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jim Waters

August 28, 2024 270-320-4376

School choice benefits teachers, too

LEXINGTON, Ky – Students are not the only ones to benefit from school-choice policies. Teachers also benefit.

“School Choice and Competition Lead to Higher Teacher Pay,” a new report released today by the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions, Kentucky’s free market think tank, indicates that empowering parents with choosing the best school for their children also raises teachers’ salaries in general.

“The credible research surveyed in this policy report suggests that education-choice policies play a key role in increasing compensation for teachers in public, charter and private schools,” said Bluegrass Institute President Jim Waters.

The policy brief, authored by John Garen, Ph.D., found that private school options are a critical component of enhancing competition, along with public charter schools and having multiple districts in a metropolitan area.

Garen, BB&T Professor Emeritus of Economics at University of Kentucky, also notes that his analysis of the data suggests school-choice policies induces more flexibility in compensating teachers.

“This results in higher pay, especially for teachers in demanding environments, with math and science skills, and with other skills that lead to effective teaching, This, in turn, improves student achievement," he writes.

“A rising school-choice tide lifts teachers’ ‘boats’ as well," Waters said. "Amendment 2 on November’s ballot will make possible the kind of school-choice policies that positively impact teachers along with families needing better educational options for their children.”

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Bluegrass Institute works with Kentuckians, grassroots organizations, and business owners to advance freedom and prosperity by promoting free-market capitalism, smaller government and defense of personal liberties.

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