San Diego Schools Avert Planned Strike After Reaching Agreement

The San Diego Unified School District and the San Diego Education Association have reached a mutual agreement, preventing a one-day strike scheduled for February 26.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) and the San Diego Education Association (SDEA) have reached an agreement, averting a planned one-day strike on February 26. The two sides came to agreements on several bargained subjects, including special education and wages. As a result, all San Diego Unified schools will be open for instruction as originally scheduled on February 26, and the previously announced make-up date of March 9 will go back to being a non-instructional day.

Why it matters

The agreement between SDUSD and SDEA is significant as it helps stabilize the educator workforce and ensures all students are supported in the classroom. The strike, if it had gone ahead, could have disrupted the education of thousands of students in the San Diego area.

The details

The agreement between SDUSD and SDEA includes several outcomes that support district educators, students, and their families. These include dedicated intervention counselors to better support the social-emotional needs of all students, improved Fall staffing practices to reduce schedule changes and disruptions for students, stronger support for students with Individual Education Programs (IEPs), and various strategies for retaining education specialists and filling vacancies through increased compensation and reimbursing general education teachers who have chosen to pursue a special education credential.

  • The one-day planned strike was scheduled for February 26, 2026.
  • The previously announced make-up date of March 9 will now go back to being a non-instructional day with schools closed districtwide.

The players

San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD)

The public school district serving the city of San Diego, California.

San Diego Education Association (SDEA)

The labor union representing teachers and other educators in the San Diego Unified School District.

Fabi Bagula, Ph.D.

Superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District.

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What they’re saying

“We are pleased to have reached an agreement and prevented a strike. These negotiations, while at times tense, yielded an outcome that will stabilize our educator workforce and ensure all students are supported in the classroom. We appreciate the patience and flexibility our families have shown throughout this process.”

— Fabi Bagula, Ph.D., Superintendent, San Diego Unified School District (Times of San Diego)

What’s next

The SDEA will take the agreement to its membership for a ratification vote.

The takeaway

The agreement between SDUSD and SDEA demonstrates the importance of collaborative negotiations and compromise to ensure the continued education and support of students, while also addressing the needs of the district's educators. This outcome highlights the district's commitment to maintaining a stable and well-supported teaching workforce, which is crucial for providing a high-quality education to all students.