Congressional App Challenge

Congressman Craig Goldman invites all middle and high school students to compete in the annual Congressional App Challenge. This nationwide coding competition showcases students’ skills in computer science and Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM).

Please review all submission guidelines listed below to ensure that your submission will be accepted.

Questions can be directed to: TX12DistrictOffice@mail.house.gov with the subject line: APP COMPETITION 2026, Your Last Name, Your First Name.

Details:

The Deadline:

Students must submit their app by October 26, 2026.

Who Can Compete:

Middle or high school students who live in Texas’ 12^th Congressional District (TX-12) are eligible to compete.
Verify your congressional district here: Find Your Representative

Important Guidelines:

Students may compete individually or in teams of up to four.
Teams with more than four students are not eligible.
A majority of team members must live or attend school in TX-12.
Team members from outside TX-12 must live in Tarrant County or Parker County or within a neighboring congressional district (TX-24, TX-25, TX-26).
Students may submit any app they created after October 30, 2025. For updated versions of previously created apps, only the new coding will be considered.
Students may submit only one entry per year, either individually or as part of a team.

App Parameters:

Apps may be developed for any platform, including, but not limited to website, desktop/PC, mobile, browser extensions, robotics, augmented or virtual reality, wearable devices, smart devices, etc.
Students may use any programming language.
Apps must demonstrate functionality to be eligible.
Apps must adhere to standards of decency and respect. They must not be indecent, defamatory, in obvious bad taste, or demonstrate a lack of respect for public morals or conduct. Apps also must not adversely affect the reputation of congressional districts, depict hatred, defame or threaten any specific community, or incite violence. Apps containing pornography, obscenity, or sexual activity are strictly prohibited.
Apps must not violate any intellectual property, common law, or privacy rights of third parties.
Apps must be original and solely created by the contestant(s). All coding and technical development must be done by the student or student team. No other party should have any rights or interests in the app.

How to Register:

Step One: Register for the Congressional App Challenge at congressionalapchallenge.us.

If competing as a team, only one teammate should create a team profile.
This member can then invite other team members to edit the application.

Step Two: Complete the Eligibility Quiz

Complete the personal profile and eligibility quiz through the registration website.

Step Three: Monitor Your Email

Eligible students and teams will receive an email with instructions to proceed with their application.

For more registration instructions, click here.

Winner Selection:

After the submission deadline, a panel of experts will review each eligible entry.
Competition results will be sent to participants by email.

Learn more about the Congressional App Challenge by clicking here.