San Francisco Families Find Free Activities During Teachers' Strike

Museums, libraries, and other venues offer discounts and free admission for SFUSD students and families.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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With the ongoing San Francisco Unified School District teachers' strike, local families are seeking free and discounted activities to occupy their children. Venues like the Exploratorium, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, and San Francisco Public Library branches are offering special deals to support displaced students during the labor dispute.

Why it matters

The teachers' strike has left many SFUSD families scrambling to find ways to care for and educate their children while schools are closed. These community organizations are stepping up to provide enriching experiences and support for families affected by the labor action.

The details

The Exploratorium is offering free admission for SFUSD students and discounts for accompanying adults during the strike. Over 200 students and caregivers took advantage of the promotion on the first day. The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco are also allowing young people under 17 to enter for free, and temporarily extending that to accompanying adults as well. San Francisco Public Library branches are remaining open to provide resources and activities for students.

  • The SFUSD teachers' strike began on February 10, 2026.
  • The Exploratorium's free admission and discount promotion for SFUSD families started on February 11, 2026.

The players

Moyn

A caregiver of SFUSD students who brought her children to the Exploratorium during the strike.

Megan Taylor

Chief teaching and learning officer at the Exploratorium.

Lyndsey Roach

Communications manager at the Exploratorium.

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What they’re saying

“We love to come here anyways. We're not in school, but they're gonna learn so much just by being here.”

— Moyn, Caregiver of SFUSD students

“The Exploratorium takes its responsibility supporting educators very seriously and supporting the young people that are currently displaced in schools very seriously.”

— Megan Taylor, Chief teaching and learning officer, Exploratorium

What’s next

The SFUSD teachers' strike is ongoing, and families will continue to seek out free and discounted activities for their children as long as schools remain closed.

The takeaway

San Francisco's cultural institutions are stepping up to support families affected by the SFUSD teachers' strike, providing enriching experiences and a sense of community during a challenging time.