Thousands of San Francisco public school teachers launched the city’s first public school strike in nearly 50 years, closing about 120 schools and affecting roughly 50,000 students after year‑long contract negotiations collapsed. United Educators of San Francisco said members walked off to demand fully funded family health care, salary increases, and more resources for special education and homeless students. SFUSD leaders cited a $100 million district deficit and rejected the union’s 9% two‑year raise request, offering 6% spread over three years. A neutral fact‑finder recommended a compromise that the district said it could not afford. Mayor and congressional leaders urged continued talks as picket lines formed citywide. District officials and union leaders scheduled further bargaining, but no end date for the strike has been announced. Education and municipal finance experts warned that prolonged closures could deepen learning disruptions, strain substitute staffing, and escalate budgetary trade‑offs.