The San Antonio Independent School District announced this week the launch of a free after-school coding and technology program available to all middle school students across the district, starting in April 2026.
The initiative, called “Code SA,” is funded through a $2.3 million grant from a coalition of local technology companies and the San Antonio Area Foundation. It will provide students with hands-on instruction in programming languages like Python and JavaScript, as well as introductory courses in robotics and app development.
“We want every student in San Antonio to have the chance to explore technology careers, regardless of their family’s income or background,” said Superintendent Dr. James Hernandez at a press conference Monday. “Code SA is about opening doors.”
The program will initially be offered at 15 middle schools, with plans to expand to all district campuses by the fall semester. Each site will be staffed by trained instructors, many of whom are volunteers from local tech firms including Rackspace, USAA’s technology division, and several startups based at the city’s Tech Bloc innovation hub.
Students who complete the program will earn a certificate and have the opportunity to showcase their projects at a district-wide technology fair in December. Top projects will be eligible for scholarships to summer coding camps.
Parent Maria Santos, whose son attends a participating school, said the program fills an important gap. “My kid loves computers, but we can’t afford private coding classes. This gives him a real chance to learn skills that could shape his future.”
Registration opens April 1 through the district’s website, and the program is open to all sixth, seventh, and eighth graders enrolled in SAISD schools. Transportation assistance will be available for students who need it.
