SF teachers strike ends after reaching tentative deal

Driving the news: Under the deal, teachers will get the equivalent of a 5% raise over two years, while paraprofessionals and instructional aides will get an 8.5% raise over two years.

• The union's big win came in the district's concession to fully funded health care for dependents starting on Jan. 1, 2027.
• To help with initial costs, the union has agreed to hit pause on paid sabbatical leave. The district will cover 50% of the costs starting July 1 as an on-ramp.
• The two sides also agreed on caseload reductions for special educators and sanctuary protections for students and educators, among other things.

Between the lines: The union had initially demanded a 9% raise, staffing commitments and more comprehensive benefits amid persistent teacher shortages and rising health care expenses.

• The district countered that declining enrollment and a structural deficit that already threatened to close schools limited their ability to meet those demands.
• Talks stalled as the union spent nearly a year bargaining over a two-year contract while working under a deal that expired last summer.

What's next: Schools remain closed Friday and will reopen on Wednesday after Presidents Day and Lunar New Year.