A teacher strike is a labor dispute between teachers and school administration over compensation, work conditions, or other workplace issues. Educators may strike alone or in groups, with the goal of disrupting daily routine and influencing district policy. They also can engage in more limited protests, such as a walk-in, where they leave their classroom before the school day begins and are often joined by parents, students, and other community members.
While teacher strikes aren’t as common today as they were in the mid to late 20th century, they still occur. A recent study by Melissa Arnold Lyon, Matthew Kraft, and Matthew Steinberg found that during the period from 2007 to 2023, 610 districts in 27 states experienced a teacher strike.
Teachers typically are fighting for higher starting salaries, but they also seek to improve their working conditions. During the Los Angeles teachers strike in 2019, for example, educators demanded lower class sizes, increased funding for student programs, and more support staff. Some strike goals are more abstract: some educators want affordable housing near schools or a chance to fight for sanctuary protections for undocumented students.
During a teacher strike, many district-run schools remain open but are only minimally staffed with administrators and non-unionized support staff. Schools offer breakfast and lunch, though families must register their children in advance to receive meals. Your assignment may be to identify and report on the impact of a teacher strike on vulnerable demographics, such as low-income students and special needs kids. You might also conduct some service journalism, focusing on local childcare providers who are stepping in to help during the strike.