San Francisco Teachers End Strike With Fully Funded Family Care

Union reaches tentative agreement with district on key demands including health care and pay raises

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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San Francisco public schools and the teachers union reached a tentative agreement early Friday morning, ending a four-day strike that closed schools for the week. The agreement includes fully funding dependent health care by January 2027, pay raises for teachers and classified workers, and other worker protections.

Why it matters

The strike highlighted ongoing tensions between teachers unions and school districts over issues like health care costs and workloads, which contribute to high teacher turnover rates. The resolution of this strike could serve as a model for other districts facing similar challenges.

The details

Under the agreement, certificated teachers will receive a 2% raise this year and again next year, and two additional paid work days on the calendar, while classified workers (including paraeducators and instructional aides) will receive the equivalent of an 8.5% raise over two years. The union also secured sanctuary protections for immigrant students and staff, and worker protections around district use of artificial intelligence.

  • The strike began on February 10, 2026 and ended on February 14, 2026.
  • The district agreed to fully fund dependent health care by January 2027, with increases in contributions for eligible workers by July 2026.
  • Teachers returned to work on February 14, 2026, which was treated as a transition day, and students are scheduled to return on February 22, 2026 following the Presidents Day and Lunar New Year holidays.

The players

United Educators of San Francisco

The teachers union that represents San Francisco public school educators and negotiated the tentative agreement with the district.

San Francisco Unified School District

The public school district that reached the tentative agreement with the teachers union, agreeing to fully fund dependent health care and provide pay raises.

Cassondra Curiel

The president of the United Educators of San Francisco union.

Maria Su

The superintendent of the San Francisco Unified School District.

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What they’re saying

“By forcing SFUSD to invest in fully funded family healthcare, special education workloads, improved wages, sanctuary and housing protections for San Francisco families, we've made important progress towards the schools our students deserve.”

— Cassondra Curiel, President, United Educators of San Francisco (sfpublicpress.org)

“This is a monumental tentative agreement with the United Educators of San Francisco. This agreement enhances our efforts to recruit and attract talented educators to work in San Francisco public schools and reflects our commitment to invest in educators.”

— Maria Su, Superintendent, San Francisco Unified School District (sfpublicpress.org)

What’s next

The tentative agreement must be ratified by United Educators of San Francisco members and approved by the San Francisco Board of Education.

The takeaway

This strike resolution highlights the ongoing challenges school districts face in balancing budgets, retaining teachers, and meeting the needs of students and families. The agreement to fully fund dependent health care and provide pay raises for teachers and staff could serve as a model for other districts grappling with similar issues.