Kaptivate is proud to partner with the U.S. Department of Education’s (the Department) Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education to lead the Career Z Challenge, a $2.5 million multi-phase federal prize competition for high schools to start or expand work-based learning for their students.
Through the Challenge, the Department seeks creative solutions to expand high school student access to high-quality work-based learning (WBL) to prepare them to contribute to today’s workforce and propel them into careers of the future. Eligible entrants are invited 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, as well as a portion of a $2.5 million prize pool. The lessons learned from this challenge will inform resources and models that will foster the growth and expansion of high-quality, sustainable work-based learning experiences for students nationwide.
As a strategic communications firm based in Alexandria, VA, Kaptivate is leading open innovation challenge design, outreach and communications, community building, technical assistance, and challenge management efforts for the Career Z Challenge. 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.
