Schools That Can & South Bronx Community Charter High School Are Winners of the Career Z Challenge

In September 2025, Schools That Can and South Bronx Community Charter High School were officially named winners of the U.S. Department of Education’s Career Z Challenge. The Career Z Challenge was a multi-year, multi-phase process focused on building and expanding innovative work-based learning ecosystems. Schools That Can and South Bronx Community Charter High School are among only nine winners to receive the prestigious national recognition.

Schools That Can and South Bronx Community Charter High School’s collaboration focused on a work-based learning ecosystem that is built on three pillars, including competencies aligned to durable skills students need to excel in the school and the workforce, real-world internship and work-based learning experiences, and career readiness curriculum that focuses on exploration, development of tangible skills and assets like resumes and cover letters, and helping students deepen their understanding of the world of work and future paths.

South Bronx Community Charter High School and Schools That Can plan to expand the work-based learning ecosystem to additional schools with the goal of ensuring every student has access to career-connected learning. We are proud of our partnership with South Bronx Community Charter High School, and are appreciative of the support of the Career Z Challenge team throughout this process. 

For more information on career readiness curriculum and work-based learning opportunities, please email info@schoolsthatcan.org