San Francisco teachers strike, leaving 50,000 students out of school

Teachers demand higher wages, better health benefits, and more resources for students with special needs

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Around 6,000 public school teachers in San Francisco went on strike, leaving nearly 50,000 students out of the classroom. The strike, which has no end date in sight, is over teachers' demands for higher wages, fully funded family health care, and more resources for students with special needs. Parents are scrambling to find childcare and activities for their children during the strike, with some relying on relatives, after-school programs, and organizing playdates with other families.

Why it matters

The San Francisco teachers' strike highlights the ongoing challenges facing public education, including teacher retention, funding, and support for students with special needs. The strike also puts a strain on working parents who must find alternative arrangements for their children during school closures.

The details

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 and services. The district, which faces a $100 million deficit and is under state oversight due to a long-standing financial crisis, has offered a 6% wage increase paid over three years, which the union has rejected.

  • The San Francisco Unified School District's 120 schools were set to remain closed for a third day on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.
  • The strike began on Monday, February 9, 2026.

The players

United Educators of San Francisco

The union representing the approximately 6,000 public school teachers in San Francisco who went on strike.

San Francisco Unified School District

The school district that oversees the 120 public schools in San Francisco that have been closed due to the strike.

Maria Su

The superintendent of the San Francisco Unified School District.

Connor Haught

A parent in San Francisco who is juggling work and childcare responsibilities during the strike.

Sonia Sanabria

A parent in San Francisco who had to stay home from her job as a cook to care for her 5-year-old daughter and 11-year-old nephew during the strike.

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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

“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, Parent and restaurant cook

What’s next

The two sides have yet to agree on a wage increase and family health benefits. The union initially asked for a 9% raise over two years, while the district offered a 6% increase over three years. The superintendent said there was some progress in the negotiations on Monday, including support for homeless families, AI training for teachers, and establishing best practices for the use of AI tools. 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 teacher retention, funding, and support for students with special needs. The strike puts a strain on working parents who must find alternative childcare arrangements, underscoring the need for more comprehensive solutions to support families and ensure the stability of the education system.