San Diego Unified School District News Releases: SD UNIFIED & SDEA REACH AGREEMENT, SCHOOL STRIKE PREVENTED, SCHOOL OPEN FEB. 26

Friday, February 13, 2026

SD UNIFIED & SDEA REACH AGREEMENT, SCHOOL STRIKE PREVENTED, SCHOOL OPEN FEB. 26

EDITOR NOTE: I can arrange an interview for you between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. today 2/13 with SD Unified Board of Education President Richard Barrera. He is available either in person at the Education Center, 4100 Normal Street, or virtually, or by phone. Please let me know if you would like to interview him, and I will help schedule. Thanks, James

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: James Canning
313-580-2845 / Jcanning@sandi.net

SD UNIFIED & SDEA REACH AGREEMENT, SCHOOL STRIKE PREVENTED, SCHOOL OPEN FEB. 26

SAN DIEGO (FEBRUARY 13, 2026) – One-day strike on February 26 is off as San Diego Unified School District and San Diego Education Association (SDEA) reach a mutual agreement on how to proceed with a contract. On February 12, 2026 the two sides came to agreements on several bargained subjects including special education and wages. SDEA will take the agreement to its membership for a ratification vote.

All San Diego Unified schools will be open Thursday, February 26 and the previously announced make-up date of March 9 will go back to being a non-instructional day with schools closed districtwide.

"We are pleased to have reached an agreement and prevented a strike," said Superintendent Fabi Bagula, Ph.D., San Diego Unified School District. "These negotiations, while at times tense, yielded an outcome that will stabilize our educator workforce and ensure all students are supported in the classroom. We appreciate the patience and flexibility our families have shown throughout this process."

There are several important outcomes that support district educators, students and their families, including:

Student and Families Benefits

Dedicated intervention counselors to better support the social-emotional needs of ALL students
Improved Fall staffing practices to reduce schedule changes and disruptions for students when the school year begins.
Stronger supports for students with Individual Education Programs (IEP), including additional time for education specialists to focus on case management, completion of assessments and collaboration with families
Various strategies for retaining education specialists and filling vacancies through increased compensation and reimbursing general education teachers who have chosen to pursue a special education credential.
Reaffirming our commitment to programs that provide safe and supportive spaces for our students, staff, and families.

Staff Benefits

Wage increases when the District receives the currently withheld Proposition 98 funding. Pursuant to the Equity Clauses in the respective collective bargaining agreements, all employees would receive these raises retroactively.
Maintaining full health and welfare benefits for employee, spouse, and dependents
Investments in Special Education
Minimizing classroom schedule changes at the beginning of the school year
Reaffirming our commitment to programs that provide safe and supportive spaces for our students, staff, and families.

To learn more about how San Diego Unified supports its educators, here is a link to review.

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