The U.S. Department of Education’s annual challenge series

Preparing high school students for rewarding careers and increasing access to career and technical education.

CTE Momentum challenges

Power Your Future Challenge

August - November 2024
CTE students can be changemakers in their schools and in their communities.

Through the Power Your Future Challenge, CTE students can make positive contributions to advancing clean energy.

Your Place in Space Challenge

March - October 2023
Any career can be a space career — and career and technical education (CTE) programs already present a natural starting point for a space career.

The Your Place in Space Challenge connected the dots between the skills students build in CTE programs and the fulfilling careers they can have in the space industry.

Watch the launch event

Announcing the series

At the 29th annual Space Exploration Educators Conference (SEEC) at Space Center Houston, the U.S. Department of Education announced the launch of CTE Momentum and the topic of the first challenge in the series, the Your Place in Space Challenge (expected to launch in early spring). Following the announcement, a panel discussion led by astronaut Megan McArthur explored the many exciting career pathways that lead to the space industry.

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Get the latest news on the series, active challenges, and upcoming events.

Just announced: Meet the winners of the first challenge in the CTE Momentum series!