Katy ISD Commits to Staff Pay Increase Despite Current Deficit
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KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
June 24, 2026
By Natalie Cook Clark
The Katy ISD Board of Trustees has unanimously approved a compensation increase for the 2026 - 2027 school year. The plan boosts pay for teachers and staff and reinforces the District’s commitment to attracting and retaining top-tier talent.
Katy ISD is beginning this academic year with a deficit, but they are still showing commitment to supporting staff.
Pay increases for classroom teachers and all other District employees include a 1 percent mid-point increase, funded locally, through the district’s general operating fund.
Employees will also receive a one-time, lump sum payment of 1 percent in August, and another one-time, lump sum payment of 1 percent awarded in December 2026.
“Although Katy ISD is beginning the year with a budget deficit, the District received a one-time payment of $34 million from the Texas Comptroller as a result of a value audit of 2023 property taxes,” says Katy ISD Board Trustee Board Trustee Dawn Champagne. “We are dedicating the majority of that to pay our valued employees.”
The District’s compensation plan also raises the teacher salary schedule to $66,550, reinforcing Katy ISD’s commitment to competitive pay for beginning educators. The District is already above the market median starting salary for teachers among comparable districts in the Houston area.
“The 2026 – 2027 compensation plan advances our investment in Katy ISD’s teachers and support staff, recognizing their outstanding service to educating our community’s children,” says Katy ISD Board President Lance Redmon. “Our employees are the foundation of our success, and we are dedicated to attracting, rewarding and retaining the talented professionals who deliver the enriching learning, and college- and career-ready experiences our community expects and our students deserve.”
“We wish we could do more. We are hopeful that the Texas Legislature will provide additional funding for public education during its next session in spring 2027, allowing all districts, including Katy ISD, to provide larger, permanent raises for all employees,” says Champagne. “I am grateful for the dedication of Katy ISD’s employees to serving our students and families.”