Congressional App Challenge

*The 2023 application period is now closed. Please check back in late Spring 2024 to learn more about next year's application process.*

Review the information below and visit the Congressional App Challenge website (congressionalappchallenge.us) to learn more about the rules for the competition and get started.

If you have any questions or need further information, contact Rita Waters at 610-626-2020. 

Program Background:

The Congressional App Challenge was created because Congress recognized that STEM and computer-based skills are essential for economic growth and innovation. To maintain American competitiveness, it’s crucial that the United States invests in its youth now and helps them acquire these valuable skills. The Challenge encourages students to develop computer-based skills and recognizes them for their efforts.

The Mission of the Congressional App Challenge is to:

1. Inspire students from every corner of the country to explore STEM, coding, and computer science through hands-on practice.

2. Actively include and engage students from communities that are traditionally underrepresented in the tech community.

3. Innovate policymaking by connecting members of Congress to new and emerging technologies through personal interactions with their student constituents.

Rules for Participants:

1. Students are only eligible to compete in districts that have signed up for the Challenge. 

2. Students may only compete in one district.

3. Students may compete in either the district in which they reside OR the district in which they attend school.

4. Students must be in middle or high school at the time the contest closes (November 1, 2023). 

5. Students may not participate after having graduated from high school.

6. There are no limits on the app theme or topic.

7. Students can use any programming language (C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, etc.) or “block code.”

8. Students may use any platform (PC, web, tablet, robot, Raspberry Pi, mobile, etc.).

9. Students may compete as individuals or in teams of up to four. Teams with five or more students are NOT eligible. If competing as a team, at least two of the teammates must be eligible to compete within the district in which they are submitting.

Submission Requirements:

1. Students may submit their apps any time between the launch and the student submission deadline.

2. The app students create may cover any topic, but they must:

   • Be original and appropriate. 

   • Have been created within the calendar year prior to the Challenge closing date.

3. To complete a submission, students must submit the following:

   • Sign-Up Form

     • Students must fill out a sign-up form so their eligibility can be verified.

     • If students are competing as part of a team, the sign-up form must include the relevant information (e.g. mailing address) from each student.

   • App Information

     • Title of the app.

     • The coding language used.

     • What they were trying to accomplish and why.

     • An explanation of a difficulty they faced in programming the app and how it was overcome.

     • What improvements the students would make if they were going to create a version 2.0 of their app.

   • Demonstration Video

     • Students must create a 1-3 minute video, post it on YouTube or Vimeo and submit the link on the Challenge submission form.

     • The video must be set up for public view. 

     • Videos that are longer than 3 minutes will be penalized at the judges’ discretion.

   • Exit Questionnaire

     • The exit survey will be emailed to all students following the submission of their app.

4. The full text of the rules for student participants is included on the Congressional App Challenge website.