QUICK LINKS
Secretary Cardona’s Video: Career Z Challenge
OCTAE CONTACT
Jenny Lambert
Jenny.Lambert@ed.gov
(202) 987-1304
To this end, the U.S. Department of Education has joined with America's innovators through a series of prize competitions to provide students with contextualized skill-building experiences that increase access to and expand the capacity of career and technical education (CTE).
Current Challenges
Rural Tech
Project
June 2020 - September 2023
Launched in June 2020, the Rural Tech Project is a national challenge to advance rural technology education. The U.S. Department of Education invites high schools and local education agencies to propose technology education programs that use competency-based distance learning.
Meet the Phase 3 Finalists!
August 2024 – June 2025
On August 9, 2024, the Department announced the 10 finalists of the Career Z Challenge, a multi-phase federal prize competition to expand high school students’ access to high-quality work-based learning. Finalists were selected from a diverse pool of 73 semi-finalists representing schools from 34 states. Finalists will receive tailored technical assistance to accelerate the expansion and sustainability of their WBL ecosystem during Phase 3 of the Challenge. Each finalist who completes the Phase 3 requirements will be eligible to receive a prize award of $150,000.
Power Your Future Challenge
August 2024 - February 2025
On August 6, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education launched the Power Your Future Challenge — the second challenge in its annual CTE Momentum series to prepare high school students for rewarding careers and increase access to career and technical education. The Power Your Future Challenge invites teams to submit innovative action plans that will advance the use of clean energy in their schools and communities.
Past Challenges
Reach Higher Career App Challenge
October 2015 - August 2016
Launched in October 2015, the Reach Higher App Challenge called upon app developers, educators, and data mavens to submit mobile solutions that help students navigate education and career paths, and increase the capacity of career counselors to serve students.
EdSim
Challenge
November 2016 - October 2017
Launched in November 2016, the EdSim Challenge called upon the virtual reality, video game developer, and educational technology communities to submit concepts for immersive solutions that prepare students for the globally competitive workforce of the 21st century.
CTE Makeover
Challenge
March 2016 - October 2016
Launched in March 2016, the CTE Makeover Challenge called upon schools to design makerspaces that strengthen career and technical skills through making.
CTE Mission:
CubeSat
August 2020 – May 2021
Launched in August 2020, CTE Mission: CubeSat is a national challenge to build technical skills for careers in space and beyond. Five finalists have advanced to Phase 2, during which they will build and launch CubeSat prototypes.
CTE Momentum: Your Place in Space Challenge
March 2023 - February 2024
The purpose of the Your Place in Space Challenge is to create engaging learning opportunities for students to explore the challenges and opportunities in space missions; connect CTE programs with a wide variety of space careers; and inspire students to envision and pursue space careers. The call to action is to submit a design for a product or service that will contribute to space missions and exploration.