The Career Z Challenge: Expanding Work-Based Learning Opportunities for Gen Z, a $2.5 million federal open innovation prize competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education’s (the Department) Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, is nearing the submission deadline. Submissions are due June 7, 2023, at 6:00 pm ET. Click here to start your submission.

The Department is seeking creative solutions to expand high school student access to high-quality work-based learning (WBL) opportunities to prepare them to contribute to today’s workforce and propel them into careers of the future.

The Career Z Challenge supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s Raise the Bar: Unlocking Career Success initiative championed by the U.S. Departments of Education, Labor, and Commerce.  

Through the Career Z Challenge, the Department invites eligible entrants to engage collaborative ecosystems of educators, businesses, industries, workforce professionals, and community stakeholders to provide students with interconnected and expansive career development opportunities and experiences across grades 9 – 12.  

Semi-finalists and finalists will be eligible to receive targeted technical assistance including professional development support, webinars and training, networking with a community of peers, and a portion of a $2.5 million prize pool. 

The lessons learned from this challenge will inform resources and models to foster the growth and expansion of high-quality, sustainable work-based learning experiences for students nationwide. 

Learn more at CareerZChallenge.com.