If you're like most Venice and Westside parents, you heard something about a possible teacher strike and immediately thought: Wait, what? Do I need to panic? Should I be planning childcare? And also... why is this even happening? Doesn’t LAUSD have like, millions in the bank?

Let's break it down. No jargon. No politics. Just the plain info you actually need.

UTLA (United Teachers Los Angeles), the union representing about 37,000 LAUSD teachers, just voted to authorize a strike. A strike authorization is NOT the same as an actual strike.

Think of it like this: the authorization gives union leadership the option to call a strike if contract negotiations fall apart. It's leverage. It's saying, "We're serious, and we're prepared to walk out if we have to."

As of right now, teachers are still teaching. Schools are still open. But the clock is ticking, and things could change.

If this feels familiar, it's because San Francisco just went through this exact scenario in early February 2026. Their teachers walked out for a full week, closing schools for about 50,000 kids. Parents scrambled for childcare. It was chaotic.

The good news? SF teachers and the district just reached a tentative deal. Schools are reopening. The strike is over.

The bad news? It shows that these situations are real, they're happening, and they absolutely affect families when they do.

Three main things:

Higher pay and benefits. Some teachers are working second jobs just to afford rent in the city where they teach. They're asking for wages that actually reflect LA's cost of living. (And if you live on the Westside, you know.)

Better student resources. Teachers are pointing to schools that can't afford basic supplies like tissues or pencils. They want more funding for classroom materials, mental health support, and learning resources.

Smaller class sizes and adequate staffing. Overcrowded classrooms make it harder for kids to get the attention they need. Teachers want staffing levels that actually support effective learning.

UTLA says these priorities are necessary to support student learning and teacher retention.

You've probably seen headlines about LAUSD having a huge reserve fund (sometimes called a "rainy day fund"). And you're thinking: If they have all this money saved up, why are they talking about layoffs? Why aren't they just paying teachers more?

And this is basically the core of the debate parents are seeing play out:

So when you hear “they have billions in the bank” vs “we’re staring down a deficit,” you’re not imagining things. That gap in the numbers (and what counts as usable money) is the fight.

LAUSD is facing a projected $1.6 billion deficit. And there's a big difference between having savings and having ongoing money to pay for recurring costs.

Think of it this way: If you have $20,000 in your savings account but your monthly expenses are $5,000 and your income just dropped to $4,000, you've got a problem. You can tap your savings for a while, but eventually, you'll run out. And you can't use that one-time savings to commit to permanent salary increases that you'll have to pay every single year going forward.

That's essentially what's happening with LAUSD. They have reserves, yes. But those are one-time funds. Teacher salaries are ongoing costs that the district has to pay year after year. The district is saying they don't have enough recurring revenue to cover permanent salary increases and maintain current staffing levels.

Is this the full story? Probably not. Budget decisions are complicated, and reasonable people disagree about priorities. But that's the basic math parents are trying to understand.

On Monday, February 17, 2026, the LAUSD Board is voting on a plan that could include layoffs. State law requires districts to notify employees of potential layoffs by March 15, so this vote is happening now to meet that deadline.

This doesn't mean layoffs are 100% happening: but it does mean they're on the table. Final decisions won't come until the end of June, so there's still time for negotiations, advocacy, and changes. But for parents, this is a key date to watch.

Let's be real: if UTLA calls a strike, schools close. That means:

For working parents in Venice, Mar Vista, Santa Monica, and West LA: many of whom are already juggling remote work, freelance gigs, or commutes: this would be a massive disruption. It's not just an inconvenience; it's a logistical crisis.

If you have flexibility in your schedule, now might be the time to start thinking about backup plans. Ask your employer about work-from-home options. Check in with family or friends who might be able to help with childcare. Look into local camps or programs that might offer emergency drop-in options.

UTLA and LAUSD have already completed two mediation sessions. No deal yet. The process is now moving into fact-finding, where a neutral panel reviews both sides' positions and issues a (non-binding) report.

After fact-finding, if there's still no contract agreement, the union could call a strike.

LAUSD says they've presented updated wage proposals and approved a $3.1 billion healthcare agreement covering premiums for employees and their families through 2027. UTLA says the offers aren't enough.

Both sides are dug in. Both sides say they're fighting for what's best for students. And in the middle are... parents, just trying to figure out what's actually happening and what it means for their kids.

Stay informed. Follow UTLA and LAUSD on social media for updates. Check Venice Rising for local coverage and parent perspectives.

Reach out to your school. Ask your principal or school admin what their communication plan is if a strike is called. When will you know? How will they notify you?

Contact the school board. If you have opinions about how the district should prioritize its budget, let board members know. This is your district, and your voice matters.

Talk to other parents. The parent community is often the best source of real-time info and mutual support. Join your school's parent group chat. Check in with neighbors. We're all figuring this out together.

Don't blame teachers. This isn't about teachers wanting to abandon students. Most teachers don't want to strike: they're doing it because they feel like they have no other option to get the district's attention. Whatever happens, they're not the villains here.

A strike might not happen. Negotiations could result in a deal. The board vote on February 17 might change things. San Francisco found a resolution, and LA might too.

But it could happen. And if it does, Venice and Westside parents need to be ready.

Stay tuned. Keep your calendar flexible. And remember: whatever your feelings about the politics, we're all just trying to do right by our kids.

We'll keep you updated as things develop.