San Francisco Teachers Strike Leaves Parents and Children in Limbo

Thu Feb 12 2026 01:14:13 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As a teacher's strike continues in San Francisco, parents scramble to care for their children with schools closed and after-school programs overwhelmed.

The ongoing teachers' strike in San Francisco is impacting the daily lives of families. With nearly 50,000 students kept out of classrooms, parents like Connor Haught and Sonia Sanabria are seeking solutions to keep their kids occupied while supporting the striking teachers' demands for better wages and benefits.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The teachers' strike in San Francisco has thrown families into disarray as they navigate the closures of public schools affecting nearly 50,000 students. Parents are struggling to fill their children's day with activities as discussions between the United Educators of San Francisco and the school district reach a stalemate.

Connor Haught, a working parent, shares his challenge of balancing virtual work meetings and supervising his two young daughters. Like many others, he is concerned about how long the strike could last, prompting him and his wife to consider multiple avenues, from local excursions to arranging playdates with friends.

The San Francisco Unified School District's 120 schools have remained closed for several days amid demands from around 6,000 public school teachers for higher wages and better resources for students. Some families are turning to community assistance, such as free lunch programs, while others depend on relatives for childcare.

Sonia Sanabria, a restaurant cook, voiced her struggle as she tends to her 5-year-old daughter and 11-year-old nephew, stating, '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.' Her mother helps with school runs, but the effort of keeping children engaged at home is challenging.

Teachers are adamant that their strike aims for the long-term welfare of students, advocating for safe and fully staffed classrooms, with demands for competitive salaries and comprehensive health benefits. Though negotiations showed some progress regarding additional support for homeless families and teacher training, significant disagreements remain, notably on wage increases in an economically stressed district.

As the unrest reaches its third day, families are left to wonder about the future of their children’s education while rallying support for their teachers’ cause. They hope for a resolution soon, balancing the need for income with the earnestly shared goal of better educational opportunities for all.