Seattle Public Schools and Teachers Union Reach Tentative Agreement, Averting Strike

Seattle Public Schools (SPS) and the Seattle Education Association (SEA) reached a tentative contract agreement late Tuesday night, September 1, 2026, allowing schools to open on schedule for the 2026-2027 school year on Wednesday, September 2. The agreement follows months of negotiations, with key union priorities including compensation, class sizes, and special education support. The district had been grappling with a significant budget deficit.