San Diego Unified, Teachers Union Reach Agreement, Call Off Strike

Schools will be open on February 26 after the two sides agreed on several bargaining subjects.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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San Diego Unified School District and the San Diego Education Association have reached an agreement, calling off a planned one-day strike by educators scheduled for February 26. The two sides agreed on contract language around special education caseloads, stipends for hard-to-fill special education positions, and wage increases tied to state funding.

Why it matters

The agreement helps stabilize the educator workforce in San Diego Unified and ensures students will not be disrupted by a strike. It also sets a precedent for other districts and unions in California, where a wave of educator strikes has spread in recent years.

The details

Under the agreement, March 9 will return to a non-instructional day with schools closed districtwide. The two sides agreed on contract language in Article 29 that will provide more enforceable caseload caps for special education teachers, with automatic monthly stipends when they are over contractual limits. Special education teachers in hard-to-fill moderate-to-severe positions will also receive $4,000 annual stipends, and there will be a pathway to free credentials and caseload management days. The agreement also includes wage increases tied to the district receiving currently withheld Proposition 98 funding, maintaining full health and welfare benefits, and a promise of no layoffs.

  • On February 13, 2026, the agreement to call off the February 26 strike was announced.
  • The March 9 make-up educational day will return to a non-instructional day with schools closed districtwide.

The players

San Diego Unified School District

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

San Diego Education Association

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

Fabi Bagula

The superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District.

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What’s next

The San Diego Education Association will take the agreement to its membership for a ratification vote.

The takeaway

The agreement between San Diego Unified and the teachers union demonstrates the power of collective bargaining to address issues like special education caseloads, teacher compensation, and job security, even in the face of tense negotiations. This sets an important precedent for other districts and unions in California as the wave of educator strikes continues.