Lesson Plan Challenge 2025-26

We’re inviting educators, aspiring educators, and post-secondary faculty to participate in creating an innovative lesson plan using the California Cradle-to-Career Data System Student Pathways Data Story to guide the next generation in making informed decisions. 

Your contribution will play a vital role in reaching and educating the next generation of students to interpret education and career pathways data and insights, build data literacy skills, while centering student experience in exploring data.

Key Information

  • Download the Lesson Plan template (download)
  • Download the Lesson Plan Challenge rubric (download)
  • Submit your Lesson Plan here

Upcoming Informational Sessions

Click below to expand each item.

  • Launch: September 24, 2025
  • Informational Session 1: November 6 , 2025
  • Informational Session 2: January 14, 2026
  • Informational Session 3: February 13, 2026
  • Final Submission Deadline:  March 16, 2026
  • Winners Announcements: Summer 2026

Participants must submit their lesson plan by March 16, 2026.

  • Submit your Lesson Plan here
  • Download the Lesson Plan template (download)
  • Download the Lesson Plan Challenge rubric (download)
  • Only one submission per individual

Submissions are accepted in  one of the following categories:

  • Middle school and high school educators (grade 5-12) and school leaders 
  • Post-secondary level (college faculty)
  • Educators in training (students in TC/credentialing programs)

*Other education practitioners can participate

All participants will receive:

  • A certificate of recognition
  • A Pathfinder badge
  • Be included on the C2C website
  • Opportunities to connect Pathfinders statewide

The top three lesson plan winners will:

  • Be featured on the C2C website
  • Have their lesson plan added to C2C’s resources
  • Get the chance to present before state education leaders in Sacramento and at regional events