Congressional App Challenge
Civic and Social OrganizationsDistrict of Columbia, United States11-50 Employees
The Congressional App Challenge (CAC) is a civic education initiative that engages students in district-wide coding competitions organized by Members of Congress. By creating original applications, participants have opportunities for recognition by their representatives, prize prizes, and display of their work in the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. The program runs across participating districts from July through early November and is managed by congressional staff with coordination from the Congressional Internet Caucus and the Internet Education Foundation, a nongovernmental sponsor. Based in Washington, DC, the CAC operates within the civic and social organizations space, targeting students and schools in participating districts as its primary audience. The initiative emphasizes developing computer science and STEM skills and aims to spotlight youth innovation in technology feeding into a broader effort to foster a domestic workforce in these fields. Recent developments include partnerships announced in 2025 to extend the program’s reach and impact through collaboration with organizations like Collegewise, expanding opportunities for students to pursue higher education alongside their tech interests.