San Francisco Teachers Strike Leaves 50,000 Students Out of School

Parents scramble to find childcare and activities as strike continues with no end date in sight.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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A teachers strike in San Francisco has left nearly 50,000 public school students out of the classroom, forcing parents to find alternative care and activities for their children. The strike, which began on February 11, 2026, is over demands by the United Educators of San Francisco for higher wages, better health benefits, and more resources for students with special needs. Some parents are relying on after-school programs, relatives, and each other for help, while others are working from home to supervise their kids.

Why it matters

The San Francisco teachers strike highlights the challenges faced by working parents when schools unexpectedly close, especially in a high-cost city like San Francisco where many families struggle to afford childcare. The strike also shines a light on the ongoing tensions between teachers' unions and school districts over issues like compensation and student support.

The details

The strike began on February 11, 2026 after about 6,000 public school teachers walked out. The United Educators of San Francisco and the school district have been negotiating for nearly a year, with teachers demanding fully funded family health care, salary raises, and the filling of vacant positions impacting special education. The district has countered with a 6% wage increase paid over three years, which the union has rejected.

  • The strike began on February 11, 2026.
  • Schools were set to remain closed for a third day on February 12, 2026.

The players

Connor Haught

A parent with two daughters in the San Francisco public school system who is working from home and trying to plan activities for his children during the strike.

Lily Perales

A history teacher at Mission High School who says the strike is "for the betterment of our students" to ensure they have "fully staffed schools" and teachers with "competitive wage packages and health care".

Maria Su

The superintendent of the San Francisco Unified School District, who said there was some progress in negotiations on Monday but the two sides have yet to agree on a wage increase and family health benefits.

Sonia Sanabria

A restaurant cook who stayed home from work to care for her 5-year-old daughter and 11-year-old nephew, and expressed support for the striking teachers.

United Educators of San Francisco

The teachers' union that is leading the strike and demanding higher wages, better health benefits, and more resources for students with special needs.

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What they’re saying

“This is for the betterment of our students. We believe our students deserve to learn safely in schools and that means having fully staffed schools. That means retaining teachers by offering them competitive wage packages and health care and it means to fully fund all of the programs we know the student need the most.”

— Lily Perales, history teacher at Mission High School (wbal.com)

“If the strike continues, I'll have to ask my job for a leave of absence, but it will affect me because if I don't work, I don't earn.”

— Sonia Sanabria, restaurant cook (wbal.com)

“They are asking for better wages and better health insurance, and I think they deserve that because they teach our children, they take care of them and are helping them to have a better future. I just hope they reach agreement soon.”

— Sonia Sanabria, restaurant cook (wbal.com)

What’s next

The two sides in the negotiations, the United Educators of San Francisco and the San Francisco Unified School District, will continue to meet to try to reach an agreement to end the strike.

The takeaway

This strike highlights the significant impact that school closures can have on working families, especially in high-cost cities like San Francisco where affordable childcare options are limited. It also underscores the ongoing tensions between teachers' unions and school districts over issues of compensation and student support, which can disrupt the education of tens of thousands of students when left unresolved.