SJ Learns is guided by an Advisory Committee comprised of educational experts and stakeholders representing nonprofits, foundations, schools, and the City of San José. The Advisory Committee will review applications and provide scoring based on a rubric that aligns with the minimum eligibility requirements and the program descriptions provided by applicants. Preference will be given to applicants that serve higher proportions of low-income students with academic need, address the SJ Learns priorities, and emphasize the Quality Standards for Expanded Learning in California. The list of Advisory Committee members is available.
The number of grants varies from year to year, and is dependent on the quality of applications received. In the past there have been between 4-5 grants to school districts, serving an average of 10-11 schools.
Programs have supported students in literacy intervention during the summer and/or academic school year. Programs have used funding to hire credentialed teachers to help prevent summer learning loss, provide intensive tutoring in the after and before school setting, expanded opportunities for kindergarten readiness, and more.
For the 2025-2026 academic year, Local Education Agency (LEA) participation in DataZone’s warehouse is required; however, participation in DataZone’s analytics platform is not required.
The Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) maintains DataZone to close achievement gaps and promote continuous improvement by aggregating LEA data on student outcomes. Three youth-focused City programs (SJ Works, Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force, and SJ Learns) have been working with SCCOE to assess the impact of City-funded programs on educational outcomes. For more information, visit DataZone.
Visit SJ Learns Grant Opportunity for more information. For answers not covered here or on the grant opportunity webpage, email sjlearnsgrants@sjplf.org.