A new report says Kentucky has slipped to 42nd in the nation when it comes to teacher pay.

The report comes from the National Education Association, which ranked Kentucky 41st last year.

It says the national average for public school teachers last school year was just over 72,000.

And Kentucky, the average is a little more than 58,000.

The NEA says teacher pay has failed to keep up with inflation, with teachers making 5% less than they did a decade ago.

In a statement, Eddie Campbell of the Kentucky Education Association told the Kentucky Lantern the organization is, quote, deeply concerned about the General Assembly's lack of investment in Kentucky.

Educators pay.

The Kentucky General Assembly included more than $12 billion for schooling in its two year budget last year, but it did not provide for across the board raises for school employees, as Governor Andy Beshear had requested.