Torrance Unified Torrance Teachers Association Negotiations Update

Torrance Unified School District (TUSD) and the Torrance Teachers Association (TTA) continued successor contract negotiations during their eighth bargaining session. Both teams engaged in collaborative discussions regarding several contract articles, including discipline procedures, workday expectations, leaves, professional development days, temporary teacher assignments, and school event expectations.

During the session, the parties reached two Tentative Agreements on:

• Instructional Hours and Work Day 
• Parent Conferences 

Both bargaining teams remain committed to productive, good-faith negotiations focused on supporting students, employees, and the Torrance school community. The parties will continue negotiations on May 14, May 21, and June 8, 2026.

Agreed to Instructional Hours and Work Day
Agreed to Parent Conferences

Torrance Unified School District and TTA met on April 29, 2026, and continue to engage in productive and focused negotiations aimed at supporting students, staff, and the broader school community.

During this session, both teams reached tentative agreements on the Positive Work Year and Compensatory Time Off, reflecting meaningful progress in the negotiations process.

Throughout the session, both teams demonstrated a commitment to continued collaboration while also clearly articulating their respective priorities. Several proposals remain under active discussion, and both sides agreed that additional time is needed to work toward a resolution on these complex topics.

TUSD remains committed to a negotiation process that is thoughtful, transparent, and student-centered, while also supporting staff and maintaining effective school operations.

Next Negotiation Dates:

• May 5, 2026
• May 14, 2026
• May 21, 2026

The District will continue to provide updates as progress is made.

Agreed to Compensatory Time Off 
Agreed to Positive Work Year 

Torrance Unified School District continues to engage in ongoing negotiations with the Torrance Teachers Association (TTA) with a focus on working through complex issues that impact our schools, staff, and students. During the most recent session, both parties exchanged proposals and counterproposals across several articles, with discussions centered on clarifying language, addressing concerns, and identifying areas that require additional analysis before movement can occur.

The District presented revisions to previously discussed language, including updates related to instructional structures, workday expectations, and the addition of an Independent Study component. These proposals were intended to streamline existing contract language and provide clearer definitions around staff responsibilities, including distinctions between district office and site-based roles.

Special education remains a significant area of discussion. The District emphasized that any proposed changes to staffing ratios, service models, or structures must be grounded in a comprehensive cost analysis and aligned with Education Code requirements. 

Overall, the session reflected ongoing engagement on a wide range of substantive issues, and no tentative agreements were reached. The District remains committed to a thoughtful and data-informed process and will continue working with TTA to address outstanding concerns.

TUSD remains focused on reaching an agreement that is responsible, sustainable, and in the best interest of students, staff, and the broader community.

TTA and TUSD will continue to negotiate on the following days April 29, May 5 May 14 and May 21, 2026.

Torrance Unified School District and the Torrance Teachers Association (TTA) continue to engage in productive and collaborative negotiations focused on supporting students, strengthening instructional practices, and ensuring fair and sustainable working conditions for educators. 

During the April 15 session, both parties made meaningful progress across several articles of the collective bargaining agreement. The discussion reflected a shared commitment to maintaining high-quality educational programs while balancing the needs of staff, students, and families. 

A significant area of progress occurred in Article VI (Hours of Employment, Adjunct Duty, and Supervision), particularly related to Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). Both parties are aligned in recognizing the importance of collaboration among teachers to improve student outcomes. Agreements reached reaffirm that PLC time will remain focused on collaboration, including lesson planning, student data analysis, and instructional alignment, while ensuring that this time does not extend the instructional day or add additional minutes to teachers’ workday . This reflects a shared priority of protecting teacher time while maintaining strong instructional collaboration. 

The District and TTA also reached agreement on key provisions related to faculty meetings. The updated language ensures that meetings are purposeful, limited in length, and communicated in advance to staff. This includes an agreement that meeting agendas will be provided prior to the meeting, supporting transparency and allowing staff to prepare meaningfully. Additionally, both parties clarified that faculty meetings are not intended to replace or expand PLC time, preserving the integrity of both structures. 

Progress was also made in Article III (Association Rights) regarding participation in hiring panels. Both sides reached agreement on language ensuring that the Association may have representation on administrative hiring panels, while also maintaining flexibility for the District to efficiently conduct hiring processes. This agreement supports transparency and collaboration while ensuring schools are staffed effectively. 

In Article XVI (School Site Councils), discussions centered on strengthening site-based decision-making processes. The parties aligned on language reinforcing that School Site Councils will continue to play a critical role in developing and monitoring school plans aligned to student achievement goals and the District’s Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP).

These provisions emphasize compliance with state law and promote inclusive representation of staff, parents, and students in school-level decision-making . 

The session also included robust discussion on work year expectations, adjunct duties, and compensation for activities occurring outside the regular school day. The District emphasized its intent to align contract language with current practices and ensure consistency across school sites, while TTA raised important considerations regarding equitable compensation and workload. These conversations are ongoing and reflect the complexity of balancing operational needs with employee workload. 

Additionally, TTA presented proposals related to Special Education support, including caseload considerations, inclusion practices, and additional time for case management. The District is carefully reviewing these proposals to ensure alignment with legal requirements, staffing realities, and student needs before providing a formal response. 

Overall, the April 15 session demonstrated continued forward movement, with several agreements reached and others progressing through thoughtful discussion. Both the District and TTA remain committed to a respectful and solutions-oriented bargaining process that prioritizes student success and supports the professionals who serve them. 

The next negotiation session is scheduled for April 21, April 29 and May 5, 2026.

Continued Progress Through Collaboration

We are pleased to provide a second update on our ongoing negotiations with the Torrance Teachers Association. Building on the positive momentum from our initial sessions, the District and the Association continue to engage in productive and collaborative discussions.

We are progressing as expected and remain focused on reaching a fair and responsible agreement that supports our teachers, students, and broader school community.

Since our last update, the District has received a total of 12 proposals from the Association. The District has responded to all of the proposals. This reflects meaningful engagement from both parties and a continued commitment to moving the process forward in a timely and thoughtful manner.

We are also pleased to share that we have reached a Tentative Agreement (TA) on Article VI: Hours of Employment, Adjunct Duty, and Supervision Subsection K. This agreement represents continued progress on key issues that directly impact our educators’ daily work and responsibilities.

Negotiations are ongoing, and upcoming sessions are scheduled for April 15, April 21, and April 29. We remain committed to maintaining a respectful, solution-oriented approach as we continue working toward a comprehensive agreement.

We will continue to keep our community informed as progress continues. Thank you for your ongoing support of our students, staff, and schools. 

A Strong, Positive Start for Our Teachers and Students

As we have done in the past, we will be using this website to communicate negotiations updates to our community. We are pleased to share this positive first update on our ongoing negotiations with the Torrance Teachers Association.

Negotiations started on March 16 and In just two sessions on March 16 and March 18, we made strong and efficient progress toward a new agreement. Working together, we have already reached agreement on several important items, reflecting a shared commitment to collaboration, supporting our teachers, and doing what is best for our students while remaining fiscally responsible.

So far, we have reached agreement on seven items, including:

• In response to our staff and community requests, we were able to finalize future instructional calendars for the next three school years: 2027–2028, 2028–2029, and 2029–2030
• Agreement on an updated Article II (Recognition), which will ensure clarity and inclusion for all certificated staff
• A new Maintenance of Standards article that supports fairness, equity, and good faith in how our bargaining agreement will be implemented
• Agreement to expand the Adult Education salary schedule to align with other teacher salary schedules, supporting consistency and equity across all District programs

These early agreements are evidence of a strong and respectful working relationship. We are listening, problem-solving, and moving forward together with a shared focus on supporting our educators and maintaining high-quality learning experiences for our students.

We are encouraged by this promising early progress as we continue negotiations. Our next sessions are scheduled for April 7, April 10, and April 15.

We are committed to keeping our community informed and to working collaboratively toward an agreement that supports our, students, teachers, parents, guardians and the entire Torrance community.