Opportunity Information: Apply for DOL OESE 34043
The Career Pathways Exploration (CPE) Grant Program (Assistance Listing/CFDA 84.424J) is a competitive, state-focused funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, aimed at expanding career exploration for elementary and secondary students. The core idea is to help students start exploring careers earlier and in more structured, equitable ways so they can build and prioritize the skills and knowledge that matter for high-demand fields in their state. Rather than funding isolated local pilots, the program is set up to strengthen statewide capacity so career exploration becomes a more integrated part of broader career pathways and workforce readiness systems.
A central emphasis of the program is alignment with real labor market needs and state workforce priorities. The intent is that students do not just receive generic career awareness activities, but gain exposure to real-life workforce realities through a range of pathways-aligned experiences. The opportunity description highlights statewide coordination that connects K-12 education with workforce and economic development systems, so that career exploration is not a standalone school initiative but part of a coherent pipeline that reflects what employers and communities actually need. Applicants are encouraged to connect their proposed work to their state’s Unified or Combined Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) State Plan, which signals that proposals should be grounded in existing workforce strategy, sector priorities, and labor market information rather than reinventing parallel structures.
The program is explicitly designed for state applicants, reflecting the Department’s view that states, under gubernatorial leadership, are best positioned to coordinate K-12 career exploration at scale and align it with workforce systems. Governors play a direct role: the governor must apply or must identify, designate, or endorse the entity that applies. Eligible applicant entities include state educational agencies, state workforce development agencies, state vocational rehabilitation agencies, or a consortium of these entities (and the governor may be part of a group application consistent with federal group application regulations at 34 CFR 75.127-129). A key constraint is that only one application is allowed per state, which effectively forces cross-agency alignment and a single statewide strategy rather than multiple competing proposals.
Program activities, as described, focus on building capacity to integrate career exploration into statewide career pathways and workforce readiness programs, and on scaling access to modern tools and partnerships that help students translate exploration into action. The description specifically references scaling access to learning and employment records (LERs) and talent marketplaces, suggesting an interest in systems that let students document skills and experiences in portable ways and connect those records to education and employment opportunities. It also emphasizes aligning with local workforce boards and other system partners so students can use what they learn from career exploration to make meaningful next-step decisions, whether that is course selection, work-based learning, credential planning, or engagement with pathway programs.
The funding source and statutory framing also matter for understanding what ED is trying to accomplish. The CPE program is being established using funds reserved for technical assistance and capacity building under section 4103(a)(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). That reservation is intended to help state educational agencies and local educational agencies carry out activities authorized under Title IV, Part A (Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants). In that context, CPE is positioned as a way to build state and local capacity to provide “well-rounded educational opportunities” consistent with ESEA section 4107, by making career pathways exploration broadly available to students. In other words, ED is treating career exploration as part of a well-rounded education and is using this program to help states develop the systems, partnerships, and scalable models that districts can use.
Another notable expectation is knowledge-sharing beyond the grantee state. The description indicates that grantees will share with other states and LEAs how career pathways exploration initiatives can be successfully implemented. This implies that awards are intended to produce replicable approaches, lessons learned, and implementation models that can be adopted elsewhere, not just benefits within a single state.
From a practical grants-management perspective, the opportunity is a discretionary grant with an expected 10 awards and an award ceiling of $9,000,000. The opportunity number is listed as DOL OESE 34043, with the agency identified as the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. The original closing date is June 9, 2026, and the posting/creation date is May 7, 2026. Eligible applicants are limited to state governments as defined in federal statute (with the governor applying directly or endorsing a designated state entity or consortium), consistent with the program’s purpose of building statewide, cross-system capacity for K-12 career exploration tied tightly to workforce needs.Apply for DOL OESE 34043
- The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Career Pathways Exploration Grant Program 84.424J" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.424.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-07.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-09. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $9,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Career Pathways Exploration (CPE) Grant Program (CFDA 84.424J) FAQs
What is the Career Pathways Exploration (CPE) Grant Program?
The Career Pathways Exploration (CPE) Grant Program (Assistance Listing/CFDA 84.424J) is a competitive, state-focused discretionary grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE). It is intended to expand and strengthen career exploration for elementary and secondary (K-12) students by building statewide capacity and integrating career exploration into broader career pathways and workforce readiness systems.
What is the main goal of the CPE program?
The program is designed to help students begin exploring careers earlier and in more structured and equitable ways, so they can build and prioritize skills and knowledge that matter for high-demand fields in their state. The emphasis is on statewide approaches rather than isolated local pilot projects.
Who is the funding agency for this opportunity?
The funding agency is the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE).
Is this a competitive grant?
Yes. CPE is described as a competitive, discretionary grant program.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are limited to state entities. The governor must apply directly or identify, designate, or endorse the entity that applies. Eligible applicant entities include:
- State educational agencies (SEAs)
- State workforce development agencies
- State vocational rehabilitation agencies
- A consortium of these entities (and the governor may be part of a group application consistent with 34 CFR 75.127-129)
Can local school districts (LEAs) apply directly?
Based on the information provided, the opportunity is explicitly designed for state applicants. It is positioned as a statewide capacity-building program rather than a grant for local districts to apply for directly.
What role does the governor play in the application?
The governor has a direct role: the governor must either submit the application or identify, designate, or endorse the entity (or consortium) that applies. This structure reflects the program's intent to coordinate cross-agency, statewide efforts under gubernatorial leadership.
How many applications can be submitted per state?
Only one application is allowed per state. This effectively requires cross-agency alignment and a single statewide strategy rather than multiple competing proposals within the same state.
How many awards does the Department expect to make?
The opportunity indicates an expected 10 awards.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $9,000,000.
What is the assistance listing (CFDA) number?
The Assistance Listing/CFDA number is 84.424J.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is listed as DOL OESE 34043.
When is the application due?
The original closing date is June 9, 2026.
When was the opportunity posted?
The posting/creation date is May 7, 2026.
What kinds of activities does the CPE program support?
Activities focus on building statewide capacity to integrate career exploration into statewide career pathways and workforce readiness programs. The description highlights scaling access to modern tools and partnerships that help students turn exploration into actionable next steps within education and workforce systems.
Does the program focus on statewide systems rather than local pilots?
Yes. The program is designed to strengthen statewide capacity and coordination, rather than funding isolated local pilot projects. The intent is to make career exploration a more integrated part of statewide career pathways and workforce readiness systems.
How important is alignment with labor market needs?
Alignment with real labor market needs and state workforce priorities is a central emphasis. The intent is that students gain exposure to real-life workforce realities through pathways-aligned experiences, rather than generic career awareness activities.
Are applicants encouraged to align with a WIOA State Plan?
Yes. Applicants are encouraged to connect their proposed work to their state's Unified or Combined Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) State Plan, grounding proposals in existing workforce strategy, sector priorities, and labor market information.
What does the opportunity say about coordination with workforce and economic development systems?
The opportunity emphasizes statewide coordination that connects K-12 education with workforce and economic development systems. The goal is to ensure career exploration is part of a coherent pipeline that reflects employer and community needs.
Does the program reference specific tools like learning and employment records (LERs)?
Yes. The description specifically references scaling access to learning and employment records (LERs) and talent marketplaces, indicating interest in systems that help students document skills and experiences in portable ways and connect those records to education and employment opportunities.
Does the program require or encourage partnerships with local workforce boards?
The description emphasizes aligning with local workforce boards and other system partners so students can use career exploration to make meaningful next-step decisions (for example, course selection, work-based learning, credential planning, or engagement with pathway programs).
How is this program connected to ESEA Title IV, Part A?
The CPE program is being established using funds reserved for technical assistance and capacity building under ESEA section 4103(a)(3). That reservation is intended to help state and local educational agencies carry out activities authorized under Title IV, Part A (Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants). In this framing, ED is positioning career pathways exploration as part of providing well-rounded educational opportunities consistent with ESEA section 4107.
Is knowledge-sharing with other states part of the expectation?
Yes. The description indicates grantees will share with other states and LEAs how career pathways exploration initiatives can be successfully implemented. This suggests the Department expects replicable approaches, lessons learned, and implementation models that can be adopted beyond the grantee state.
What is the overall intent behind limiting eligibility to states?
Based on the description, the program limits eligibility to states because states, under gubernatorial leadership, are viewed as best positioned to coordinate K-12 career exploration at scale and align it tightly with workforce systems and state priorities.
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