San Francisco Schools Closed Amid Citywide Teachers Strike

All public schools in San Francisco are closed on Tuesday as teachers walk out over wages, health care costs, and staffing levels.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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San Francisco public schools are closed on Tuesday as a citywide teachers strike continues, affecting around 50,000 students. The walkout marks the city's first teachers strike in nearly 50 years and underscores tensions over wages, health care costs, and staffing as the school district faces a budget deficit.

Why it matters

The closure of all San Francisco public schools highlights the ongoing challenges facing the education system, including funding shortfalls, teacher retention issues, and the need to adequately support both educators and students. The strike reflects the broader struggle for public sector workers to secure fair compensation and working conditions.

The details

The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) announced that all schools would be closed to students on February 10, with the district delivering over 2,655 independent study packets to community sites and programs. SFUSD offices and the Enrollment Center would also be closed, while all athletic activities and field trips were canceled. Union leaders said there had been little progress on their calls for higher pay, fully funded health care, and measures to stabilize staffing levels, while the district rejected the union's proposal for a 9% pay increase over two years, countering with a 6% rise over three years.

  • On February 10, 2026, all San Francisco public schools were closed due to the teachers strike.

The players

San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD)

The public school district serving the city of San Francisco, which is facing a budget deficit of $100 million and is under state fiscal oversight.

United Educators of San Francisco

The labor union representing teachers and other educators in the San Francisco public school system, who are striking for higher pay, fully funded health care, and measures to stabilize staffing levels.

Daniel Lurie

The mayor of San Francisco, who is encouraging the district and union to continue negotiating to reach a deal and end the strike.

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What they’re saying

“We understand the strain that school closures place on families, and we will continue to update our website regularly with up-to-date information and community resources. We are grateful for the support of so many partners around the city who have been working around the clock to provide food and other resources to our students and families.”

— San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD statement)

“The educators and district are at the table right now. They are making progress, and I am encouraging them to stay at the table and get this deal done.”

— Daniel Lurie, Mayor of San Francisco (X)

“Public schools are the heartbeat of San Francisco, but right now, that heart is breaking. Every year we lose amazing educators to districts that offer actual competitive health care and salaries. Our students lose out when their teachers can't afford to stay. Today, we are rallying to win fully staffed, stable schools, fully funded health care, and manageable caseloads for Special Ed.”

— United Educators of San Francisco (Social media)

What’s next

The district and union are continuing negotiations, and the judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the teachers to remain on strike.

The takeaway

The San Francisco teachers strike highlights the ongoing challenges facing public education, including funding shortfalls, teacher retention issues, and the need for fair compensation and working conditions for educators. The closure of all public schools in the city underscores the impact these disputes can have on students and families, underscoring the importance of finding a resolution that addresses the concerns of both the district and the union.