San Diego Unified and teachers union reach deal, cancel Feb. 26 strike and reopen schools
Strike plans reversed after Feb. 12 bargaining agreement
San Diego Unified School District and the San Diego Education Association reached an agreement on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, leading to the cancellation of a one-day teacher strike that had been scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 26. District officials said the agreement covers multiple bargaining subjects, including special education and wages, and will be taken to union members for a ratification vote.
With the strike called off, all San Diego Unified schools are expected to operate normally on Feb. 26. The district also reversed its earlier calendar adjustment tied to the planned walkout: March 9, which had been designated as a make-up instructional day, will return to a non-instructional day with districtwide school closure.
How the planned shutdown was set up
The Feb. 26 walkout had been set as a one-day unfair labor practice strike following a union authorization vote held before winter break. The district had previously said it would close campuses for the day, citing concerns about supervision, instructional continuity and campus safety. A make-up day had been set for March 9 to recover lost instructional time.
The dispute centered heavily on special education staffing and service delivery. In late January, more than 300 educators rallied outside a San Diego Unified board meeting ahead of the planned strike. The district has said it fills the vast majority of special education teaching positions, while union leaders have argued that staffing shortfalls and caseload pressures can undermine services for students with disabilities.
Key elements cited by district and union communications
District statements described the outcome as a package aimed at stabilizing staffing and strengthening student supports. Items highlighted in district communications included intervention counseling to support students’ social-emotional needs, changes to fall staffing practices intended to reduce early-year schedule disruptions, and additional time for education specialists focused on Individualized Education Program (IEP) case management, assessments and family collaboration.
Union communications and reporting on the agreement described several special-education-specific provisions, including contract language intended to create more enforceable caseload caps and a mechanism for automatic monthly stipends when educators exceed contractual limits. Reporting also described additional incentives focused on hard-to-fill roles, including an annual stipend for some moderate-to-severe special education positions, pathways related to credentials, and designated caseload management days for assessments, IEP meetings and paperwork.
Wages and funding remain tied to state dollars
On compensation, district communications indicated wage increases would be triggered when currently withheld Proposition 98 funding is received, with retroactive application under equity clauses. The district also stated it would maintain full health and welfare benefits for employees, spouses and dependents.
Feb. 12, 2026: District and union reached an agreement, pending ratification.
Feb. 26, 2026: Schools now expected to remain open as scheduled.
March 9, 2026: Returns to a non-instructional day with districtwide closure.
“We are pleased to have reached an agreement and prevented a strike,” Superintendent Fabi Bagula said in a district statement announcing the deal.