The Career Pathways Exploration Grant Program 84.424J supports efforts to provide elementary and secondary school students with increased career exploration opportunities that allow them to develop, expand, and prioritize the skills and knowledge needed to excel in high-demand fields. Administered by the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, this program provides competitive grants to States to build their capacity to integrate career exploration into statewide career pathways and workforce readiness programs.

Overview

The Career Pathways Exploration (CPE) program helps ensure access to opportunities that expose students to real-life workforce realities through a variety of career pathways programs aligned with State workforce priorities. The program is designed to allow Governors, in coordination with State agencies and their local educational agencies (LEAs), to align career exploration opportunities for schools with real-time labor market needs. This creates statewide opportunities for students to explore careers early, scale access to learning and employment records (LERs) and talent marketplaces, and align with local workforce boards and system partners.

State applicants are encouraged to align proposed activities with the State’s Unified or Combined Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) State Plan to ensure coherence with broader workforce development strategies and labor market priorities.

Eligibility

• Eligible applicants: State governments only.
• Additional information: In accordance with section 437(d)(1) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), an applicant must be a State as defined in 20 U.S.C. 7801(48). The governor must either apply, or identify, designate, or endorse one of the following entities to apply: State educational agencies (as defined in 20 U.S.C. 7801(49)), State workforce development agencies, State vocational rehabilitation agencies, or consortia of these entities (including the governor) as a group application under 34 CFR 75.127-129.
• Important: Only one application per State is permitted.

Funding and Benefits

• Program Funding: $44,000,000
• Expected Awards: 10
• Award Maximum: $9,000,000
• Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No
• Funding Instrument Type: Grant
• Opportunity Category: Discretionary
• Category of Funding Activity: Education

Application Process

Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59:59 pm Eastern Time. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov. Applicants may visit www.grants.gov to apply, track application status, and subscribe to updates.

Funding opportunity number: DOL-OESE-34043

Deadline and Timeline

• Closing: June 9, 2026 (electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59:59 pm Eastern Time)
• Posted Date: May 7, 2026
• Archive Date: July 9, 2026

Contact Information

• Contact: Ivonne Jaime
• Email: careerpathways@ed.gov
• Additional Information: https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/grants-birth-grade-12/school-and-community-improvement-grants/career-pathways-exploration-grant-program-84424j