Frequently asked questions

Do we need experience in career exploration to participate?

Teachers and students do not need any career exploration expertise or experience to participate. The challenge team has curated optional resources, which can be used to familiarize yourselves with the topic as well as discuss it together in the classroom.

Who is eligible to participate in the challenge?

The challenge is open to high schools eligible to receive funding under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 as amended by the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V). A school does not need to receive funding currently, but it must be eligible to receive Perkins V funding to participate in this challenge. For information on eligibility, please refer to the Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions published on the challenge website.

What is the role of the team lead and who qualifies for that role?

The team lead serves as the primary point of contact for the challenge and will be responsible for submitting the team’s solution via AwardForce. The team lead must be a CTE teacher, CTE coordinator, or CTE director employed by the submitting team’s school and be at least 18 years of age. For the purposes of this challenge, “a CTE teacher” refers to an individual who is currently teaching a career and technical education course (Perkins V). You can find further details in the Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions published on the challenge website.

Is there a special qualification I need to be defined as a CTE teacher?

The Official Rules, Terms and Conditions of the Careers in Your Community Challenge include a VII. Submission information section, which explains the following: “Entrants must designate a primary contact to serve as the team lead. Each team lead must be employed as a CTE teacher, coordinator, or director at the school and must be at least 18 years of age. For the purposes of this challenge, ‘a CTE teacher’ refers to an individual who is currently teaching a career and technical education course (Perkins V). A school may collaborate with another school or schools; however, one team lead and lead school must be identified. In the event that a dispute regarding the identity of the entrant who is deemed the official submitter cannot be resolved by the Department, the affected entry will be deemed ineligible.” Please refer to the Official Rules, Terms and Conditions for complete details.

Can more than one team per school submit?

More than one team from each school can submit a career exploration solution. Each team must have a CTE teacher, CTE coordinator, or CTE director listed as the team lead, and each entry requires a statement from the entrant’s principal or school district-level administrator approving the entrant’s permission to enter the challenge. Please note that there is a limit of one winner per school.

What constitutes an eligible team? Can students enter the challenge individually?

Teams may consist of any number of teachers and students and may include a mix of grade levels and subjects — from engineering and computer science to business and art. Teams are required to identify a team lead who is a CTE teacher, CTE coordinator, or CTE director. The team lead will submit the proposed solution on behalf of the team.

When is the submission deadline?

The submission deadline is Thursday, November 19, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). We strongly encourage all teams to register in AwardForce well in advance of this deadline and submit at least one hour before the deadline to ensure the submission is received.

How can I find the correct category for my CTE program on the submission form?

Select the category or categories that most closely align with your class in accordance with the National Career Clusters Framework. If needed, you can select more than one category.

How detailed does the career exploration solution proposal need to be?

Please visit the submission form published on the submission management platform AwardForce to see what you will be required to submit. Each question has an associated word limit.

How will submissions be evaluated?

Submissions will be evaluated against a set of five selection criteria. Each selection criterion has equal weight; we encourage teams to read them carefully.

What are the requirements for student hours on this project? 

There are no specific time requirements for any team member on this project.

What are the costs and/or budgetary commitments associated with this challenge?

There are no costs or budget commitments required to enter the challenge. If selected as a winner, award recipients will be responsible for any applicable local, state, and federal taxes, and reporting that may be required under applicable tax laws.

How can I get my students involved?

Students are invited to review the information on the challenge website and review this one-page overview. We have also provided helpful resources, including templates, guides, and articles to help guide discussions on career exploration.

I am not a CTE educator, but I want to support the challenge! How can I get involved?

Although teams must be led by CTE teachers, CTE coordinators, or CTE directors at the school, anyone in the broader school community can get involved. Those who are not working directly on teams as a teacher or student can support by providing expertise, donating resources, and spreading the word through their networks.

Is this program intended to be co-curricular or extra-curricular (in school or as a club)?

Students and teachers can develop their submissions during their classes or in after-school programs.