Thousands of K-12 teachers across California have either gone on strike or voted to do so in recent months. This widespread action is part of a coordinated effort by the California Teachers Association (CTA) to secure higher salaries and better benefits for educators statewide. The strikes aim to draw public attention to the financial challenges faced by teachers and school districts.
Key Takeaways
- Thousands of California K-12 teachers are striking or voting to strike.
- The California Teachers Association coordinates these actions for better pay and benefits.
- San Francisco teachers recently concluded a four-day strike.
- Districts face financial strain from declining enrollment and ending pandemic funds.
- Teacher salaries, especially in expensive cities, often fall short of living costs.
Statewide Coordination Fuels Teacher Actions
The recent surge in teacher strikes across California is not accidental. It is a strategic, statewide initiative led by the California Teachers Association, the largest teachers union in the state. The goal is to boost salaries and benefits for teachers and to capture public attention regarding their demands.
David Goldberg, president of the California Teachers Association, emphasized the deliberate nature of these actions.
"All these districts going out on strike — it’s not a coincidence at all," Goldberg stated. "Everywhere in the state there are people with unmet needs. The conditions have been ripe for a long time."
The CTA, which represents approximately 310,000 teachers, worked for years to align the contract expiration dates of ten local teachers unions. These contracts were set to expire simultaneously on June 30, 2025. This coordination was designed to create a wave of negotiations and potential strikes, increasing the unions' political influence.
Beyond the initial ten districts, unions from at least a dozen other districts have joined this effort. Teachers are sharing strategies and learning from each other on how to secure more resources for public schools.
Strike Wave in Numbers
- San Francisco teachers: Four-day strike in February.
- West Contra Costa teachers: Struck in December.
- Districts with planned strikes but reached settlements: San Diego, Woodland, Apple Valley, Duarte, Madera.
- Districts with overwhelming strike votes: Los Angeles, Oakland, Dublin, West Sacramento, Twin Rivers, Natomas.
- Districts holding rallies, likely heading for strike votes: Berkeley, Soquel.
Financial Disparities and District Challenges
One of the primary drivers behind the strikes is the significant disparity in teacher salaries, especially in high-cost-of-living areas. Teachers in expensive cities like San Francisco often struggle to afford housing near their workplaces. Starting teachers in the San Francisco Unified School District, for example, earn about $80,000 annually.
In contrast, a starting police officer in San Francisco earns approximately $120,000. This pay gap has been a long-standing frustration within the teaching profession. However, school districts have limited control over their revenue streams. Substantial increases in spending would require additional funding from the state government.
According to education policy analyst Lois Koppich, the conversation about teacher worth is a district-level issue. Yet, the ultimate solution for marshaling sufficient resources rests with the state, reflecting broader public and political priorities.
District Financial Strain
While teachers demand higher pay, school districts face their own financial difficulties. Declining student enrollment, particularly in urban areas, leads to fewer students and, consequently, less state funding. State funding for schools is based on daily student attendance, meaning fewer students directly translate to less money.
Closing under-used schools could alleviate some financial pressure, but this option has proven highly unpopular with communities. Few school boards are willing to take such a step.
The Impact of Expired Pandemic Relief Funds
Another significant financial challenge for school districts is the expiration of pandemic relief funds. California schools received over $23.4 billion in one-time grants aimed at helping students recover from learning loss during the pandemic. State and federal authorities advised using these funds for temporary programs like tutors, after-school activities, and summer programs.
However, some districts, including Los Angeles Unified, San Diego Unified, and San Francisco Unified, used a portion of these funds to increase teacher pay or hire permanent staff. With the grant money now depleted, these districts are struggling to cover the ongoing costs of these salary increases and permanent positions.
Marguerite Roza, director of the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University, notes that despite state increases in K-12 school funding in recent years, some districts remain financially strapped. It is uncertain whether they can afford teachers' demands for higher salaries and more generous benefits.
"The unions are saying, ‘We know you have an ATM back there. If you were nice, you’d push the buttons,’" Roza observed. "But districts’ money is tight, so we’re at a standoff."
Potential Consequences of Meeting Demands
If districts agree to teachers' demands for higher compensation, cuts will likely be necessary elsewhere. Programs considered non-essential, such as sports, electives, and advanced placement classes, could face reductions. Staff layoffs are also a possibility, with tutors, classroom aides, and newer teachers being the most vulnerable.
Roza warns that these cuts could disproportionately harm low-income students. These students often rely more on special school programs and are more likely to attend schools with newer teachers. Strikes also impact low-income families more severely, as they may have fewer childcare options and students can suffer greater academic disruption.
Roza urges school boards to advocate for these vulnerable students and negotiate more effectively with teacher unions. This includes greater financial transparency and a willingness to consider closing under-used schools.
"It’s so irresponsible to erode services for vulnerable students because you don’t have a spine," she stated.
Criticism of Teacher Unions
Not everyone agrees with the approach of teacher unions. Lance Christensen, vice president of education policy at the California Policy Center, believes that California should eliminate teacher unions entirely. While he acknowledges that teachers deserve higher salaries, he argues that unions do not always act in the best interests of students.
Christensen contends that unions spend too much time defending incompetent teachers and that strikes are detrimental to students and families. He also suggests that the California Teachers Association wields excessive political power in Sacramento, overshadowing legislative discussions even when they are not directly related to education.
He pointed out that charter schools and private schools are rarely unionized and sometimes achieve better outcomes than traditional public schools. In at least 35 states, teacher unions are not permitted to strike, and a handful of states do not allow collective bargaining for teachers.
"The union uses kids as leverage," said Christensen, who ran for state superintendent of public instruction in 2022. "Right now, CTA is the biggest evil in California education."
Aftermath of the San Francisco Strike
In San Francisco, the recent four-day teacher strike concluded with a settlement. The agreement includes raises and improved benefits for teachers. The district plans to fund these increases by using its reserve funds. Parents, however, are now anticipating potential cuts to school programs.
Meredith Dodson, executive director of the San Francisco Parents Coalition, expressed relief that the strike ended but acknowledged the stress it caused families and the disruption to student learning. While most parents support teachers and believe they deserve better compensation, the district's financial situation remains unstable.
Dodson anticipates difficult questions for the school board regarding upcoming layoffs, increased class sizes, or even state intervention.
"There’s going to be some hard questions for the board, and they’re going to have to ask themselves, what’s best for kids?" she concluded.