Are you a middle or high school student interested in coding and computer science? Then you should join the 2025 Congressional App Challenge!
The Congressional App Challenge started in 2015 to promote coding and STEM! Students design an application or “app.” Each participating congressional district selects a winner. The winning app from each district is displayed at the US Capitol.
Addison is split between Illinois’ Third Congressional District, Sixth Congressional District, and Eighth Congressional District. Students living in northwest Addison can join the challenge through Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi’s office. Students in the majority of Addison can participate through Rep. Delia Ramirez’s office. Rep. Sean Casten’s Sixth Congressional District covering southeast Addison is not participating in the 2025 Congressional App Challenge, but students at Indian Trail Junior High School and Addison Trail High School can participate through the Third Congressional District.
Do you know your congressional district?
Use the Illinois State Board of Elections District Locator to look up your federal, state, and local representatives. See a full list of congressional districts participating in the 2025 Congressional App Challenge.
Congressional App Challenge Rules & Deadlines
Students should register before September 30, 2025. App must be submitted by 12:00 PM EDT on October 30, 2025. Register and submit your app here: https://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/students/student-registration/
- Students must be in middle or high school at the time of app submission.
- Students may not participate after having graduated from high school.
- Students may only compete in one district.
- Students may only submit one application per year.
- Students may compete in either the district they reside or the district in which they attend school.
- Students may compete as individuals or in teams of up to four.
- If competing as a team, at least half of the teammates must be eligible to compete in the district in which they are submitting their app.
- Teams with more than four students are not eligible to compete.
- Students can only compete in a Congressional District holding an App Challenge.
- Students can submit any app created after October 24th, 2024.
- Students can develop the app for any platform (Examples: web apps, desktop/PC apps, mobile apps, web browser extensions, robots, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), wearable devices, smart devices, and embedded systems).
- Students can use any programming language (Examples: C, C++, Objective C, C#, Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, PHP, Swift, and block-based coding languages).
- Students are permitted to use AI tools in app development, provided that all AI usage is fully disclosed in the submission materials.
- AI may only be used to support specific aspects of the project and must not constitute the entirety of the technical development.
New to coding?
Addison Public Library has resources for you! The Fiero Code database teaches coding. It is designed for ages 8-18. (But adults can use it, too!) You need an Addison Public Library card to access Fiero Code from home. Patrons without Addison Public Library cards can access Fiero Code in the library. Fiero Code teaches several coding languages including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python. Fiero Code offers quarterly coding challenges through their website, too!
Another great database for coding is LinkedIn Learning. An Addison Public Library is required to access LinkedIn Learning. LinkedIn Learning offers a “Coding Practice” section for hands-on learning. Users can practice their code, enter coding challenges, and earn certifications.
If you don’t have an Addison Public Library card, no worries! W3 Schools is a great online resource available to anyone! There are several free tutorials for HTML, CSS, Python, C+, JavaScript, and more. There are some features – like the certification programs – that users must pay to use. CodeAcademy is another online resource available to anyone. They offer a Basic free plan to learn to code. Users can upgrade to one of their paid plans.
If you need help accessing any of our services, call us or visit one of our service desks, and we’ll be happy to help! You also can schedule a 1-on-1 appointment with one of our staff members, and they will be happy to help you explore and get started: addisonlibrary.org/appointments.